[EQ] What types of interventions generate inequalities?

What types of interventions generate inequalities?
Evidence from systematic reviews 

Theo Lorenc 1, Mark Petticrew 1, Vivian Welch 2, Peter Tugwell 2

1 Department of Social & Environmental Health Research, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK

2 Centre for Global Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada

J Epidemiol Community Health doi:10.1136/jech-2012-201257 - 8 August 2012

Website: http://bit.ly/SHlNKA

Background
Some effective public health interventions may increase inequalities by disproportionately benefiting less disadvantaged groups
(‘intervention-generated inequalities’ or IGIs). There is a need to understand which types of interventions are likely to produce IGIs, and which can reduce inequalities.

Methods We conducted a rapid overview of systematic reviews to identify evidence on ‘intervention-generated inequalities’ IGIs by socioeconomic status. We included any review of non-healthcare interventions in high-income countries presenting data on differential intervention effects on any health status or health behaviour outcome. Results were synthesised narratively.

Results The following intervention types show some evidence of increasing inequalities (IGIs) between socioeconomic status groups: media campaigns; and workplace smoking bans. However, for many intervention types, data on potential IGIs are lacking. By contrast, the following show some evidence of reducing health inequalities: structural workplace interventions; provision of resources; and fiscal interventions, such as tobacco pricing.

Conclusion Our findings are consistent with the idea that ‘downstream’ preventive interventions are more likely to increase health inequalities than ‘upstream’ interventions. More consistent reporting of differential intervention effectiveness is required to help build the evidence base on ‘intervention-generated inequalities’ IGIs. …”

 

KMC/2012/HSS
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