Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with 60 Question

Introduction on Sustainable Development Goals

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adopted by the United Nations in 2015, represent a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all by 2030. Among the 17 goals, health is a central theme, explicitly addressed in SDG 3: “Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.” However, health-related targets are also embedded in other SDGs, reflecting the interconnectedness of health with social, economic, and environmental factors.

From a sociological perspective, health is not merely an individual concern but a social construct shaped by structural inequalities, cultural norms, economic policies, and political systems. Sociologists examine how health disparities arise from social determinants such as class, gender, race, and access to resources. This article explores the health-related targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through a sociological lens, analyzing how social structures influence health outcomes and how achieving these goals requires addressing underlying inequalities.

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being – Key Targets and Sociological Implications

SDG 3 includes several critical targets aimed at improving global health. Each of these has significant sociological dimensions:

1. Reducing Maternal and Child Mortality (Targets 3.1 & 3.2)

Target 3.1: Reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births.
Target 3.2: End preventable deaths of newborns and children under five.

Sociological Perspective:
Maternal and child mortality rates are not just medical issues but are deeply influenced by social factors such as:

Gender Inequality: In many societies, women lack decision-making power over their reproductive health.
Access to Healthcare: Poor and rural populations often face barriers to healthcare due to economic and infrastructural limitations.
Cultural Practices: Traditional beliefs may discourage institutional deliveries or delay medical interventions.

Sociologists argue that improving maternal and child health requires empowering women through education, economic opportunities, and dismantling patriarchal structures that limit healthcare access.

2. Ending Epidemics (Targets 3.3 & 3.4)

Target 3.3: Combat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and neglected tropical diseases.
Target 3.4: Reduce premature mortality from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) through prevention and treatment.

Sociological Perspective:
The spread of diseases is influenced by social determinants:

Poverty and Urbanization: Slum dwellers are more vulnerable to infectious diseases due to overcrowding and poor sanitation.
Stigma and Discrimination: HIV/AIDS disproportionately affects marginalized groups (e.g., sex workers, LGBTQ+ communities) due to social exclusion.
Lifestyle Diseases: NCDs like diabetes and heart disease are linked to socioeconomic status—poorer populations may lack access to healthy food and preventive care.

Sociologists emphasize the need for structural interventions, such as improving living conditions, reducing stigma, and implementing equitable health policies.

3. Universal Health Coverage (Target 3.8)

Target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage (UHC), including financial risk protection and access to essential healthcare services.

Sociological Perspective:
Health systems reflect societal inequalities:

Privatization of Healthcare: In many countries, healthcare is commodified, making it inaccessible to the poor.
Social Stratification: Marginalized groups (ethnic minorities, refugees, undocumented migrants) often face systemic barriers to healthcare.
Global Health Inequalities: Low-income countries struggle with weak health infrastructures due to historical exploitation and neoliberal policies.

From a sociological standpoint, achieving UHC requires redistributive policies, progressive taxation, and challenging neoliberal health models that prioritize profit over equity.

Intersection of Health with Other SDGs: A Sociological Analysis

Health outcomes are influenced by multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), demonstrating how social structures shape well-being:

1. SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) 1: No Poverty & SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) 2: Zero Hunger

Poverty and malnutrition are leading causes of poor health.
Sociological Insight: Economic deprivation creates a vicious cycle where poor health perpetuates poverty. Social protection programs (e.g., cash transfers, food subsidies) can break this cycle.

2. SDG 4: Quality Education

Education improves health literacy and empowers individuals to make informed health choices.
Sociological Insight: Gender disparities in education (e.g., girls dropping out due to early marriage) negatively impact maternal and child health.

3. SDG 5: Gender Equality

Gender-based violence and lack of reproductive rights directly affect women’s health.
Sociological Insight: Patriarchal norms restrict women’s autonomy over their bodies, necessitating feminist health movements.

4. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

Waterborne diseases (e.g., cholera) disproportionately affect impoverished communities.
Sociological Insight: Lack of sanitation is tied to caste and class discrimination in many societies (e.g., manual scavenging in India).

5. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

Health disparities are exacerbated by racial, ethnic, economic and other inequalities.
Sociological Insight: Systemic racism in healthcare (e.g., lower-quality treatment for Black patients) must be addressed through policy reforms.

6. SDG 16: Peace and Justice

Conflict zones experience collapsed health systems and psychological trauma.
Sociological Insight: War and displacement create long-term public health crises, requiring psychosocial support and post-conflict rebuilding.

Despite global commitments, several sociological barriers hinder progress:

1. Neoliberalism and Health Privatization

Market-driven healthcare excludes the poor, reinforcing inequality.

2. Global Health Inequities

Colonial legacies and unequal power dynamics shape global health policies.

3. Cultural and Structural Resistance

Traditional beliefs may hinder vaccination campaigns or family planning.
Example: Anti-vaccine movements in high-income countries stem from distrust in authorities.

4. Climate Change and Health (Linked to SDG 13)

Environmental degradation worsens respiratory diseases and malnutrition.
Sociological Insight: Vulnerable populations (indigenous communities, slum dwellers) bear the brunt of climate-related health risks.

Conclusion: A Sociological Pathway to Health Equity

The health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) cannot be achieved through medical interventions alone. A sociological approach highlights the need to:

Address structural inequalities (class, gender, race) that shape health outcomes.
Promote universal and decolonized healthcare systems that prioritize equity over profit.
Engage communities in health policymaking to ensure culturally sensitive interventions.
Advocate for global solidarity to overcome geopolitical barriers in health access.

For sociology students, analyzing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through a critical lens reveals that health is a social justice issue. Achieving these goals requires dismantling oppressive structures and building inclusive societies where health is a fundamental human right, not a privilege.

5-Mark Questions on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (Short Answer)

Define SDG 3 (Sustainable Development Goals) and list its two key targets related to maternal and child health.
How does gender inequality impact maternal mortality rates?
What are social determinants of health? Provide two examples.
Explain how poverty influences health outcomes in the context of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
What is Universal Health Coverage (UHC), and why is it important?
How does stigma affect the treatment of HIV/AIDS patients?
Briefly discuss the link between education Sustainable Development Goals 4 (SDG 4) and health Sustainable Development Goals 3 (SDG 3).
What role does neoliberalism play in healthcare privatization?
How does climate change Sustainable Development Goals 13 (SDG 13) impact public health?
Why is community engagement important in health policy implementation?
What is the significance of SDG 3.7 (Sustainable Development Goals) (universal access to sexual and reproductive healthcare) in gender equality?
How does caste discrimination in some societies impact access to sanitation and health?
Briefly explain how “medicalization” affects public health policies.
What is the role of the World Health Organization (WHO) in achieving SDG 3?
How does urbanization influence the spread of infectious diseases?
Why are indigenous communities disproportionately affected by health disparities?
What is the link between mental health (SDG 3.4) and social stigma?
How does food insecurity (SDG 2) contribute to malnutrition-related diseases?
What are “neglected tropical diseases,” and why do they persist in poor regions?
How does lack of clean water (SDG 6) increase the burden of diarrheal diseases?

10-Mark Questions on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (Brief Essay-Type)

Discuss the sociological factors contributing to maternal and child mortality in developing countries.
Analyze how structural inequalities (class, race, gender) create disparities in healthcare access.
Explain the concept of “health as a social justice issue” with reference to SDG 3.
How do cultural beliefs and practices act as barriers to achieving health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) ?
Critically evaluate the impact of privatization on healthcare accessibility.
Discuss the role of global health inequalities in the context of SDG 3 and SDG 10.
How does war and conflict (SDG 16) affect public health systems?
Examine the relationship between non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and socioeconomic status.
Why is Universal Health Coverage (UHC) essential for sustainable development?
How can sociological perspectives help in addressing vaccine hesitancy?
Discuss how the commercialization of healthcare conflicts with the principle of Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
Examine the role of social movements (e.g., HIV/AIDS activism) in shaping health policies.
How do refugee crises create challenges for achieving SDG 3 targets?
Analyze the impact of corporate determinants (e.g., fast food, tobacco industries) on global health.
Why is decolonizing global health important for achieving SDG 3 in developing nations?
Discuss how digital health technologies can either reduce or exacerbate health inequalities.
How does occupational health (e.g., factory workers, farmers) relate to SDG 3 and SDG 8 (decent work)?
Evaluate the role of international aid in improving healthcare systems in low-income countries.
How does the criminalization of certain health behaviors (e.g., drug use, sex work) hinder SDG 3 progress?
Why is inter-sectoral collaboration (e.g., health, education, environment) necessary for SDG 3?

15-Mark Questions on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (Long Essay-Type)

“Health is not just a medical issue but a social construct.” Discuss this statement in the context of SDG 3 and its related targets.
Critically analyze the challenges in achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) from a sociological perspective.
Examine how patriarchal structures influence women’s health outcomes with reference to SDG 3 and SDG 5.
Discuss the role of colonialism and neoliberalism in shaping global health inequalities.
How do social determinants of health contribute to the persistence of epidemics like HIV/AIDS and malaria?
“The privatization of healthcare reinforces social stratification.” Critically evaluate this statement with examples.
Analyze the intersection of climate change (SDG 13) and health (SDG 3) from a sociological perspective.
“The COVID-19 pandemic exposed deep-seated health inequities.” Discuss this statement with reference to SDGs.
How can sociological theories (e.g., conflict theory, feminist theory) help in understanding health disparities?
Evaluate the effectiveness of the SDGs in addressing health inequalities in low-income countries.
“The biomedical model of health ignores social determinants.” Critically evaluate this statement in the context of SDG 3.
How does neoliberalism undermine public health systems, and what alternatives exist?
Analyze the role of pharmaceutical corporations in shaping global health priorities (e.g., vaccine access, drug pricing).
Discuss the ethical implications of prioritizing cost-effective healthcare over equitable healthcare.
How does the concept of “structural violence” (Farmer, 2003) explain persistent health inequalities?
Compare the strengths and weaknesses of top-down vs. community-based health interventions.
Examine the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) and big data on healthcare accessibility and ethics.
“Climate change is the greatest threat to global health in the 21st century.” Discuss with reference to SDG 3 and SDG 13.
How do cultural perceptions of disability influence healthcare access (SDG 3.8) and social inclusion (SDG 10)?
Critically assess whether the SDGs adequately address the social determinants of mental health.

Bonus: Case Study-Based Questions (10-15 Marks Each)

Case Study: Brazil’s SUS (Unified Health System)
- How did Brazil’s approach to Universal Health Coverage (UHC) reduce health inequalities? What challenges remain?
Case Study: India’s National Rural Health Mission (NRHM)
- Evaluate the successes and limitations of India’s rural healthcare system in meeting SDG 3 targets.
Case Study: COVID-19 Vaccine Apartheid
- Analyze how intellectual property laws and global power dynamics created inequities in vaccine distribution.
Case Study: South Africa’s HIV/AIDS Policy
- Discuss how activism and policy changes improved HIV treatment access. What lessons apply to other diseases?