The Canadian Institute for Health Information has published a review of research on income inequality and health with particular reference to the US and Canada.
Epidemiologists and social scientists around the world have long been interested in studying the relationship between income distribution and health. Entitled What Have We Learned Studying Income Inequality and Population Health the report reviews the chronology of studies on income inequality and health, explores some of the differences between countries and examines research gaps.
The report concludes that income is related to health. Data from 528 cities worldwide shows that population health status is better in cities with relatively equal distribution of wealth within more equal socities than in cities and countries with greater ranges of financial incomes.
Three international Symposia addressing the issue of Health Disparities will be held in Boston, United States from March 3 - April 14, 2005. Each conference can be viewed via a live web cast. Free registration & information on accessing the webcast.
The conferences which are sponsored by the Harvard School of Public Health will explore the role that governments and communities can play in reducing social inequalities and how this issue can become part of the mainstream public agenda.
The themes of each conference are;
"Spreading the Health: Government’s Role in Addressing Health Disparities." Thursday, March 3
"Investigating Health Disparities: New Agendas for National Health Research Institutes." Thursday, April 14
"Making Disparities Count: From Government Statistics Systems to Action." Thursday, May 5
See more articles on health inequalities.
