[EQ] Health inequalities - Understanding the essentials

Health inequalities – Understanding the essentials

 

London Health Observatory LHO - Association of Public Health Observatories (APHO)

 

Website: http://www.lho.org.uk/HEALTH_INEQUALITIES/HealthInequalities.aspx

 

In order to tackle health inequalities together, we need to share a common understanding of what we mean when we talk of "inequity" and unfairness in health and health care. This introduction to tackling health inequalities aims to explain some of the thinking behind policy and practice on tackling health inequalities.

The London Health Observatory (LHO) has a national lead role on behalf of the Association of Public Health Observatories on health inequalities and ethnicity.

Types of inequality

Inequalities exist throughout the health system from causes to outcomes, and include inequalities in:

·         health outcomes such as the differences in life expectancy in the example, or in death or disease
http://www.lho.org.uk/viewResource.aspx?id=11106

·         access to services such as health care http://www.lho.org.uk/viewResource.aspx?id=10569

·         lifestyle factors which influence health, such as smoking or diet

1.       http://www.lho.org.uk/viewResource.aspx?id=9007

2.       http://www.lho.org.uk/viewResource.aspx?id=9044

3.       http://www.lho.org.uk/HIL/Determinants_Of_Health/Income.aspx

4.       http://www.lho.org.uk/HIL/Determinants_Of_Health/Housing.aspx

5.       http://www.lho.org.uk/HIL/Determinants_Of_Health/Employment.aspx

6.       http://www.lho.org.uk/HIL/Determinants_Of_Health/Education.aspx

The Dimensions of inequality

Within any level in the system, inequalities may be found between many types of community or population group, but national policy focuses on a few important ones:

·         Socio-economic status such as income, area based measures of deprivation or deprivation, such as the example from London’s Jubilee line.

·         Ethnicity: In London there were 5.8 deaths per 1,000 live births in the general population in 2001-2003, but 10.9 deaths per 1,000 live births to mothers born in West Africa and 8.5 in births to mothers born in the Caribbean commonwealth.http://www.lho.org.uk/Download/Public/12371/1/Infant_Mortality_ExecutiveSummary.pdf

·         Gender: Deaths from suicide and homicide in men greatly exceed the rate in women at every age.
http://www.lho.org.uk/viewResource.aspx?id=7956

·         Age: Older people have been shown to have poorer access to health services even when they have the same need as a younger person. http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Policyandguidance/Healthandsocialcaretopics/Olderpeoplesservices/DH_4071271

·         Disability: People with disability in London have twice the level of unemployment as those without a disability. http://www.londonshealth.gov.uk/hinl2003.htm#Top

 

Policy and Interventions

Health Inequalities the intervention tool: http://www.lho.org.uk/HEALTH_INEQUALITIES/Health_Inequalities_Tool.aspx

Health Inequalities - Datasets & Reports

 

 

 *      *      *     * 

This message from the Pan American Health Organization, PAHO/WHO, is part of an effort to disseminate
information Related to: Equity; Health inequality; Socioeconomic inequality in health; Socioeconomic
health differentials; Gender; Violence; Poverty; Health Economics; Health Legislation; Ethnicity; Ethics;
Information Technology - Virtual libraries; Research & Science issues.  [DD/ KMS Area] 

“Materials provided in this electronic list are provided "as is".Unless expressly stated otherwise, the findings
and interpretations included in the Materials are those of the authors and not necessarily of The Pan American
Health Organization PAHO/WHO or its country members”.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PAHO/WHO Website: http://www.paho.org/
EQUITY List - Archives - Join/remove: http://listserv.paho.org/Archives/equidad.html

 

 

 

    IMPORTANT: This transmission is for use by the intended recipient and it may contain privileged, proprietary or confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient or a person responsible for delivering this transmission to the intended recipient, you may not disclose, copy or distribute this transmission or take any action in reliance on it. If you received this transmission in error, please notify us immediately by email to infosec@paho.org, and please dispose of and delete this transmission. Thank you.