[EQ] The impact of health and health behaviours on educational outcomes in high-income countries

The impact of health and health behaviours on educational outcomes in high-income countries:
a review of the evidence

Marc Suhrcke, School of Medicine, Health Policy and Practice, University of East Anglia, United Kingdom

Carmen de Paz Nieves, Fundación Ideas, Madrid, Spain

WHO Regional Office for Europe - Copenhagen, Denmark 2011

Available online PDF file [48p.] at: http://bit.ly/giHFXO

“…..Education and health are known to be highly correlated – that is, more education indicates better health and vice versa – but the actual mechanisms driving this correlation are unknown. The effect of health on education has been well researched in developing countries, as has the effect of education on health in both developing and industrialized countries. Such imbalance could signal lack of attention not only in research but also in the public policy debate.

While children in developing countries face more serious health challenges than those in industrialized ones, the potentially relevant effect of health on their educations (and perhaps on labour force participation) cannot be ruled out.

The analytical framework we used to guide our research posits a path leading from health behaviours (e.g. smoking) and health conditions (e.g. asthma) to educational attainment (level of education) and educational performance (e.g. grades). We searched literature in the fi elds of health, socioeconomic research, and education and ultimately narrowed our selected publications to 53, all of them based in countries belonging to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development……..

 

Content:

Executive summary

1. Introduction

2. The association between education and health

3. From health to education: a conceptual framework

Health outcomes and conditions

Mediating factors and educational outcomes

External or control factors affecting both health and education

Impact of health on future prospects through education and intergenerational transmission of inequalities

4. Search methodology

5. Results of the literature review

Selected summary statistics

Impact of health-related behaviours and risk factors on educational outcomes: detailed findings

Impact of health conditions on educational outcomes: detailed findings

6. Conclusions

Annex 1. Online databases used

References

 

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[EQ] Validity and Comparability of Out-of-pocket Health Expenditure from Household Surveys

Validity and Comparability of Out-of-pocket Health Expenditure from Household Surveys:
A review of the literature and current survey instruments

Richard Heijink, Ke Xu, Priyanka Saksena and David Evans

Series: Department of Health Systems Financing (WHO, Geneva) Discussion Paper Series, 01/2011

Available online PDF file [30p.] at: http://bit.ly/i9rOVG

Objective:
 Measurement errors have been a persistent concern in survey research. In this study we investigate the current evidence on measurement errors in self-reported household expenditure and health expenditure.

Methodology: 
We performed a review of the literature on measurement error in healthcare-related surveys. A Pubmed-search was performed and in addition reference tracking was used. In the second part of the study we examined current survey instruments. We collected 90 household surveys, such as household budget surveys, from the International Household Survey Network. We included surveys that were conducted after 1990, with a focus on low-income countries and studied differences in survey design features.

Results:
The literature review demonstrated that the probability of misreporting increases when the time between interview and event increases. Also, longer and shorter recall periods have generated different outcomes, although the magnitude of this difference varied across populations. Furthermore, respondents reported higher aggregate household spending when more items were used. Respondents may also lose motivation in long-term diaries. Some studies found a relationship between measurement error and respondent characteristics, although results were inconsistent. The review of current household surveys showed a non-negligible variation in design features such as the recall period, the number of disaggregation items and the wording of questions.

Conclusion:
From reviewing the existing studies and literature we did not find evidence of the optimal survey design features in collecting data on health spending. However, some practical suggestions emerge from the study in terms of question design, recall period and methods of data collection. The study strongly suggests the need for validation studies in order to improve survey instruments and data quality. In the meantime, standardization could improve the comparability across countries and surveys, yet this may discourage the efforts on further exploring the best survey instruments and compromise within-country, over-time comparison efforts.

 

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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/ KMC 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”.
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EQUITY List - Archives - Join/remove: http://listserv.paho.org/Archives/equidad.html

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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 dispose of and delete this transmission.

Thank you.