nfrastructure including roads andagricultural research was weak, education was neglected and thepoverty level was increasing. To address the issue of their infra-structure, the Chinese government built over 400 000 km ofroad, provided phone access to 16 million rural inhabitants andsaw the amount of electricity consumed in rural areas rise from18 billion to 180 billion kilowatts between 1975 and 1997.They also invested in agricultural research and mandated 9 yearsof education.37 These efforts were shown to reduce incomeinequality and decrease rural poverty. 38 39 China has also seenimprovement in health outcomes.
Response to Question 2:
The case study highlights how China's investment in infrastructure led to the reduction of income inequality and rural poverty. Research indicates that poverty can influence health outcomes by affecting factors such as access to healthcare and health literacy. The country' investment ultimately improved health outcomes, particularly as it relates to the health status of rural populations.