[EQ] Tackling Health Inequalities - A n All-Ireland Approach to Social Determinants

From:  David McDaid - LSE Health and Social Care

 

Tackling Health Inequalities An All-Ireland Approach to Social Determinants

Compiled by Clare Farrell, Helen McAvoy, Jane Wilde and Combat Poverty Agency

Preface by Sir Michael Marmot

Combat Poverty Agency in association with the Institute of Public Health in Ireland, 2008

ISBN: 978-1-905485-63-5

 

Available online PDF [64p.] at: http://www.publichealth.ie/files/file/Tackling%20health%20inequalities.pdf

 

“… the report highlighted the extent to which health outcomes are influenced by social factors, such as poor housing, nutrition and education, and explains the higher level of ill-health found among poor and socially excluded groups in Ireland, North and South. …”

“…..As with natural phenomena that become disasters so it is with man-made disasters that cause as much havoc as natural phenomena can. This report highlights that the Troubles in Northern Ireland disproportionately affected the poor. Armed conflict and extreme natural phenomena are grisly demonstrations of the link between social processes and health inequalities. They illustrate a more general rule. The effects on health of social processes, in general, follow the social gradient: the lower the socioeconomic position the more health is affected by the social determinants of health.

This is one of the messages that comes through clearly from this report from the Institute of Public Health and Combat Poverty. The report contains an excellent review of the field of social determinants of health and has a welcome call for action. It says that: “policy commitments need to be championed, prioritised and resourced”. As the report makes clear, formulating recommendations and promoting their uptake are necessary steps. The accounting will come from having good measurement systems to assess their impact on the distribution of health within Ireland….” From: Michael Marmot, Chair of the Commission on Social Determinants of Health

Contents

Foreword

Preface

Introduction

Part One: Concepts, Definitions and Theories

What are Social Determinants of Health?

What are Health Inequalities?

Multiple causes

Measuring health inequalities

A life course perspective

Global issues

Working for Health Equity

Approaches and principles

Part Two: Health Inequalities in Ireland and Northern Ireland

Tackling Health Inequalities

Part Three: Key Social Determinants of Health

1. Poverty and Inequality

2. Social Exclusion and Discrimination

Gender

Ethnicity

Travellers

Asylum Seekers, refugees and low income migrant workers

Homelessness

Disability

Mental Health

Sexual Orientation

3. A Life Course Perspective

Pregnancy

Childhood

Older Age

4. Public Policies and Services

Health services

Education

Housing and accommodation

Transport

5. The Built Environment

6. Work and Employment

7. Community and Social Participation

8. Health Behaviours

Alcohol

Food

Smoking

9. Stress

References

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