’Guide to Health Inequities’ published

Background

Supported by the willingness of the newly elected American Congress to put a emphasis on health prevention, the memo sums up the concerns related to health inequalities in the United States and provides some recommendations to the federal and state level on the significance of prevention in reducing inequities in health. The first part of the report focuses on the existing inequalities linking them with the need to take a wider approach when it comes to health issues, what the authors call the “Two steps back framework”.

Health is an unequal matter in the United States (US). The data collection and the results of national studies show that in the US, low-income population and minority ethnic groups experience health difficulties more frequently than the whole population and have a more difficult access to quality healthcare.

Inequities in health are not only the result of unhealthy lifestyles but also of a disadvantaged socio-economical environment. In those conditions, it is therefore necessary to find ways to tackle both aspects. The memo aims to provide a comprehensive, prevention-orientated approach to reduce health inequities.

Two steps back framework

This is a framework based on finding the conditions in which diseases develop in order to provide a more holistic solution to it. In this method, the first step is going from the disease (medical conditions) to the exposure and see what factors are responsible for a reduction in health. The second step deals with the environment and social conditions of the individuals suffering from non-communicable diseases.

The memo lead to the conclusion that diseases should be tackled not only medically, but also through social factos

Recommendations

One of the main concerns raised by the authors when drafting the recommendations is the cost of healthcare spending in the US. Putting more funding in prevention may reduce spending in other areas. The author’s identify the need for a strong political will in order to ensure sufficient prevention and reducing of health inequalities. The following recommendations are made:
 integrating action on inequities by identifying and tackling social determinants of health;
 including a health equity aspect in all health programmes ;
 integrating health equity work in governmental, local national health agencies and empowering all agencies to lead community-oriented prevention programmes.
 Providing financial support to community programmes.

For further information
 Reducing inequities in Health and Safety through Prevention
 The Prevention Institute
 Joint Center Health Policy Institute
 Consultation : EU Action to reduce health inequalities

EPHA Related articles
 Commission Health Inequalities Consultation
 EU DETERMINE project tackles health inequalities
 Health inequalities: closing the gap conference
 Launch of the European Health Inequalities Portal
 Using information to reduce health inequalities
 Health inequities: a discussion paper
 EuroHealthNet publishes two reports on health inequalities and social exclusion
 What role for health care systems in reducing health inequalities?
 Public health in South East Europe: a call to action
 Resources on tackling health inequalities
 Tackling health inequalities: what can health promotion do?
 Young people provide visions on inequalities