Wednesday, April 25, 2012

[EQ] Improving Equity in Health by Addressing Social Determinants

Improving Equity in Health by Addressing Social Determinants


Edited by:

The Commission on Social Determinants of Health Knowledge Networks

Jennifer H Lee and Ritu Sadana

World Health Organization, Geneva – 2011

Available online PDF [319p.] - [1.5 MB] at: http://bit.ly/JnYFv6

This recently published book highlights actions to improve health equity based on findings from the nine global Knowledge Networks that were established during the WHO Commission on Social Determinants of Health. 


Their task was to synthesize existing evidence and identify effective and appropriate actions to improve health equity in nine thematic areas:
- globalization;
- gender;
- social exclusion;
- early child development;
- urban settings;
- employment conditions;
- health systems;
- public health programs; and
- measurement and evidence. 

The evidence reinforces the fundamental impact of social determinants on health outcomes and in creating health inequities. 

“… the Commission was designed to marshal this existing knowledge about what can be done to promote health equity and by so doing to focus global attention on the challenges of achieving greater health equity within and between countries.” 

“Across the knowledge networks, there are common actions that were identified as key to reducing inequities in health related to social determinants: increase universal access to public education, establish a minimum living wage, improve social protection, and reduce discrimination based on gender, race, ethnicity, etc.”

“A rigorous understanding of the distribution of health outcomes and opportunities across socioeconomic groups is an essential tool for policy-makers to appropriately and effectively tailor interventions that address patterns of health inequity.”

“Effective action to address the social determinants of health requires us all to rethink dominant understandings of the way in which population health is improved and health inequities reduced.”

The chapters communicate that in order to address the underlying causes of health inequities, multiple and sustained action across sectors are required and provide recommendations for doing so. 

 

“……The report by the Commission on Social Determinants of Health represents a watershed moment in public health. It marks the first systematic and truly comprehensive attempt to draw together data and evidence on social determinants that is pluralistic and diverse methodologically, empirically and theoretically. It is a rallying cry for political action in support of the action against those elements which do so much damage to human health, and it is an important signpost for action political and scientific…..


……Recently, WHO convened a global conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to build support for the implementation of action on social determinants of health. The conference provided a global platform for dialogue on how to implement the recommendations from the Commission's report on all socioeconomic groups and at rate of improvement that increases at each step down the socioeconomic ladder.

 

….. At the conclusion of the conference, 125 participating Member States adopted the Rio Political Declaration on Social Determinants of Health pledging to work towards reducing health inequities by taking action across five core areas related to the evidence synthesized across this book:


1) Adopt better governance for health and development;
2) Promote participation in policy-making and implementation;
4) Strengthen global governance and collaboration; and  
5) Monitor progress and increase accountability (WHO, 2011).


……The evidence compels action and the momentum generated by the Rio Declaration confirms that it is imperative for all to act to reduce health inequities…”

 

Contents

Preface

1. Strengthening efforts to improve health equity
    Ritu Sadana, Sarah Simpson, Jennie Popay, Daniel Albrecht, Ahmad Reza Hosseinpoor and Tord Kjellstrom

2. Globalization: the global marketplace and social determinants of health
   
Ted Schrecker and Ronald Labonté

3. Gender inequity in health

     Gita Sen and Piroska Östlin

4. Social exclusion and health inequalities: definitions, policies and actions
  
Jennie Popay, Sarah Escorel, Mario Hernández, Heidi B. Johnston, Jane Mathieson and Laetitia Rispel

 

5. Early child development: a powerful equalizer
    Arjumand Siddiqi, Emily Hertzman, Lori G. Irwin and Clyde Hertzman

6. Urban settings: our cities, our health, our future
   Jostacio Lapitan, Jennifer H. Lee and Tord Kjellstrom

7. Employment and working conditions as health determinants
    Joan Benach and Carles Muntaner with the EMCONET

8. Challenging inequity through health systems
    Lucy Gilson, Jane Doherty and Rene Loewenson

9. Reducing health inequities through public health programmes
   
Erik Blas and Anand Sivasankara Kurup

10. Measuring the social determinants of health: theoretical and empirical challenges

                       Josiane Bonnefoy, Antony Morgan, Emma Doohan, Jennie Popay, Johan Mackenbach and Michael P. Kelly

11. The way forward: acting on the evidence and filling knowledge gaps
       Jennifer H. Lee and Ritu Sadana



 KMC/2012/SDE
Twitter
http://twitter.com/eqpaho

 *      *     *
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]
Washington DC USA

“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
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transmission to the intended recipient, you may not
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in error, please dispose of and delete this transmission.

Thank you.

[EQ] Protecting Health from Climate Change - Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment

Protecting Health from Climate Change
- Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment

Extreme weather events can damage and destroy critical health infrastructure, and reduce health system efficiency.

 

Sustainable Development and Environmental Health
Pan American Health Organization/WHO 2012

Available online PDF file [72p.] at: http://bit.ly/IRNV5X

“….There is now strong evidence that the earth’s climate is changing rapidly, due mainly to human activities. Increasing temperatures, sea-level rises, changes in precipitation patterns and extreme events are expected to increase a range of health risks, from the direct effects of heat waves, floods and storms, to more suitable conditions for the transmission of important infectious diseases, to impacts on the natural systems and socioeconomic sectors that ultimately underpin human health.
Much of the potential health impact of climate change can, however, be avoided through a combination of strengthening key health system functions and improved management of the risks presented by a changing climate…..”

“……The critical first step in this process is to carry out a vulnerability and adaptation assessment. This allows countries to assess which populations are most vulnerable to different kinds of health effects, to identify weaknesses in the systems that should protect them, and to specify interventions to respond. Assessments can also improve evidence and understanding of the linkages between climate and health within the assessment area, serve as a baseline analysis against which changes in disease risk and protective measures can be monitored, provide the opportunity for building capacity, and strengthen the case for investment in health protection……”


Maria Neira, Director, Director, Public Health and Environment, World Health Organization.

Luiz Augusto Galvão, Area Manager, Sustainable Development and Environmental Health, Pan American Health Organization/WHO

Content :

Preface

1.0 Introduction

1.1 Climate change is one of many determinants of health

2.0 Steps in conducting a vulnerability and adaptation assessment

2.1 Frame and scope the assessment

2.2 Conducting the vulnerability and adaptation assessment

2.3 Understanding future impacts on health

2.4 Adaptation to climate change: Prioritizing and implementing health protection

2.5 Establish an iterative process for managing and monitoring the health risks of climate change

3.0 Conclusion

4.0 Contributors and participants in the Costa Rica consultation

5.0 Definitions

6.0 References

Coordinating lead author: Kristie Ebi

Lead authors: Peter Berry, Diarmid Campbell-Lendrum, Carlos Corvalan, Joy Guillemot

Contributing authors: Marilyn Aparicio, Hamed Bakir, Christovam Barcellos, Badrakh Burmaajav, Jill Ceitlin, Edith Clarke, Nitish Dogra, Winfred Austin Greaves, Andrej M Grjibovski, Guy Hutton, Iqbal Kabir, Vladimir Kendrovski, George Luber, Bettina Menne, Lucrecia Navarro, Piseth Raingsey Prak, Mazouzi Raja, Ainash Sharshenova, Ciro Ugarte


 KMC/2012/SDE
Twitter
http://twitter.com/eqpaho

 *      *     *
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]
Washington DC USA

“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
Twitter http://twitter.com/eqpaho




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.