The upstream-downstream metaphor helps public health practitioners to choose cost-effective public health interventions. This post curates a set of peer-reviewed articles that deal with the upstream-downstream” metaphor. 1. The upstream versus downstream metaphor to reduce health inequalities In this article, Naoimh, E. McMahon reviews literature published until June 2020 to…

Those who know public health know Prof. Irving Zola‘s “upstream vs downstream” parable. Irving Zola is a medical sociologist. His friend, John McKinlay, describes Zola’s parable in his 2019 article, “A case for re-focusing upstream: The political economy of illness”1. The “Upstream boat” sails through this upstream path. Following is…