[EQ] Health for all? A critical analysis of public health policies in eight European countries

Health for all? A critical analysis of public health policies in eight European countries

 

Editors: Christer Hogstedt, Henrik Moberg, Bernt Lundgren and Mona Backhans

Swedish National Institute of Public Health 2008

 

Available online PDF [358p.] at: http://www.fhi.se/shop/material_pdf/R200821_Health_for_all0808komp.pdf

 

“…..scientific experts from eight different countries to write about the public health policies in their respective countries with a special emphasis on the equity aspect. The countries chosen represented different parts of Europe: from the northern (Denmark, Finland Norway and Sweden) via the western (England and the Netherlands) to the southern parts (Italy and Spain).

 

 A comprehensive template for the country chapters was presented to the authors which not only covered questions concerning whether their countries were taking measures on the classic public health problems – such as smoking, alcohol or physical activity – but also if the policies had considered the wider, social determinants of health and experiences of the potential implementation processes. …”

 

“….National frameworks to tackle inequalities in health

The way health inequalities are explained is closely related to the way they are dealt with, i.e. to what extent governments try to make people behave differently or attempt to change their living conditions. Crombie et al. (6) conclude that there are four groups of factors which the countries refer to in their policies, or  background documents, as the main causes of inequalities:

1. general socioeconomic, cultural and environmental conditions (e.g. employment, income and social welfare programmes)

2. living and working conditions (e.g. individual’s position in society, occupation, income and education)

3. social and community networks available to the individual (e.g. feelings of insecurity and social exclusion)
4. lifestyle choices (smoking, lack of physical activity and poor diet…”

 

 

 

 *      *      *     *

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
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.