Background:

the article begins with the analysis of the proposals that in the matter of health promotion have been established in the world conferences on this topic. From this, the authors particularize in the relevance of precepts contained in the framework of these conferences for the current Cuban gerontological context.

Objective:

to present the main ideas resulting from the World Health Promotion Conferences to be considered in demographically aged contexts such as the Cuban one.

Methods:

it was carried out a bibliographic review of documents issued in international events since 1978 to date, in areas of health promotion and prevention, prepared by high-level and specialized technical groups from different countries of the world, convened by the United Nations (UN), World Health Organization (WHO) and Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). At the national level, documents from the State, the Ministry of Health (MINSAP), and various publications from Universities and entities related to the issue of demographic aging and care for the elderly were reviewed.

Results:

Cuba is a country with international recognition in terms of health care and promotion; through a universal and free system of health services with comparable results to high-development countries. Aspect that greatly facilitated the increase in life expectancy and that currently places the island among the demographically aged countries. With this, health policy needs to broaden the idea of health as a social objective, promote the focus of social determinants, as well as the mediation of other social sectors besides health in health processes.

Conclusions:

under the conditions of the current Cuban gerontological scenario, the ideas put forward at the World Health Promotion conferences make it possible to validate a more social and comprehensive interpretation of the concept of health, old age and aging in the 21st century.

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