scholarly journals Aiming for Health Equity: The role of Public Health Policy and Primary Healthcare Comment on "Universal Health Coverage for Non-Communicable Diseases and Health Equity: Lessons From Australian Primary Healthcare"

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bo Burström
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Social Determinants Of Health ◽  
Healthcare System ◽  
Health Equity ◽  
Social Determinants ◽  
Primary Healthcare ◽  
Communicable Diseases ◽  
Determinants Of Health ◽  
Non Communicable Diseases

This commentary refers to the article by Fisher et al on lessons from Australian primary healthcare (PHC), which highlights the role of PHC to reduce non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and promote health equity. This commentary discusses important elements and features when aiming for health equity, including going beyond the healthcare system and focusing on the social determinants of health in public health policies, in PHC and in the healthcare system as a whole, to reduce NCDs. A wider biopsychosocial view on health is needed, recognizing the importance of social determinants of health, and inequalities in health. Public funding and universal access to care are important prerequisites, but regulation is needed to ensure equitable access in practice. An example of a PHC reform in Sweden indicates that introducing market solutions in a publicly funded PHC system may not benefit those with greater needs and may reduce the impact of PHC on population health.

scholarly journals Primary Healthcare Policy Research: Including Variables Associated With the Social Determinants of Health Matters Comment on "Universal Health Coverage for Non-communicable Diseases and Health Equity: Lessons From Australian Primary Healthcare"

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shannon Berg
Keyword(s):  
Social Determinants Of Health ◽  
Social Determinants ◽  
Universal Health Coverage ◽  
Primary Healthcare ◽  
Policy Research ◽  
Communicable Diseases ◽  
Determinants Of Health ◽  
Health Coverage ◽  
Non Communicable Diseases ◽  
Universal Health

Fisher et al have provided a solid addition to health policy literature in their finding that universal health coverage supports equitable access to Australian primary healthcare (PHC), despite factors such as episodic care and poor distribution of services. Their definition of PHC was comprehensive, extending beyond medical care to include social determinants of health and public policy. However, they limited their operational definition for purposes of the study to general practice, community health and allied health. Applying a narrower definition risks lost opportunities to identify policy implications for equity beyond financial accessibility. The populations most at risk of non-communicable diseases also face significant language, culture, and individual and systemic discrimination barriers to access. Future policy research should consider using a comprehensive PHC definition in determining variables of interest and designing research methodologies, to avoid missing important knowledge that allows existing biases within primary care to continue.

scholarly journals Non-communicable diseases in Indian slums: re-framing the Social Determinants of Health

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 1438840 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lily Beth Lumagbas ◽  
Harry Laurence Selby Coleman ◽  
Joske Bunders ◽  
Antoine Pariente ◽  
Anne Belonje ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Determinants Of Health ◽  
Social Determinants ◽  
Communicable Diseases ◽  
Determinants Of Health ◽  
Non Communicable Diseases ◽  
The Social

scholarly journals Individual and community experience of rising burden of non-communicable diseases in two case districts of Nepal: a qualitative exploration

2021 ◽  
pp. 175797592110017
Author(s):  
Sudesh R. Sharma ◽  
Anna Matheson ◽  
Danielle Lambrick ◽  
James Faulkner ◽  
David W. Lounsbury ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Determinants Of Health ◽  
Social Determinants ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Geographical Location ◽  
Communicable Diseases ◽  
Determinants Of Health ◽  
Non Communicable Diseases ◽  
Policy Level ◽  
And Gender

Introduction: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are a rapidly emerging global health challenge with multi-level determinants popularly known as social determinants. The objective of this paper is to describe the individual and community experiences of NCDs in the two case districts of Nepal from a social determinants of health perspective. Method: This study adopted qualitative study design to identify the experiences of NCDs. Sixty-three interviews were conducted with key informants from different sectors pertinent to NCD prevention at two case districts and at the policy level in Nepal. Twelve focus group discussions were conducted in the selected communities within those case districts. Data collection and analysis were informed by the adapted Social Determinants of Health Framework. The research team utilised the framework approach to carry out the thematic analysis. The study also involved three sense-making workshops with policy level and local stakeholders. Results: Three key themes emerged during the analysis. The first theme highlighted that individuals and communities were experiencing the rising burden of NCDs and metabolic risks in both urban and rural areas. The other two themes elaborated on the participant’s experiences based on their socio-economic background and gender. Disadvantaged populations were more vulnerable to the risk of NCDs. Further, being female put one into an even more disadvantaged position in experiencing NCD risks and accessing health services. Conclusion: The findings indicated that key social determinants such as age, geographical location, socio-economic status and gender were driving the NCD epidemic. There is an urgent need to take action on social determinants of health through multi-sectoral action, thus also translating the spirit of the recommendations made a decade ago by the Commission on Social Determinants of Health in addressing a complex challenge like NCDs in Nepal.

scholarly journals Non-communicable diseases and the social determinants of health in the Nordic countries: Findings from the European Social Survey (2014) special module on the social determinants of health

2017 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 90-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mirza Balaj ◽  
Tim Huijts ◽  
Courtney L. McNamara ◽  
Per Stornes ◽  
Clare Bambra ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Social Determinants Of Health ◽  
Social Determinants ◽  
European Social Survey ◽  
Nordic Countries ◽  
Determinants Of Health ◽  
Social Survey ◽  
Non Communicable Diseases ◽  
Nordic Region ◽  
The Social

Comparative studies examining non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and determinants of health in the Nordic countries are scarce, outdated and focus only on a limited range of NCDs and health determinants. This study is the first to present a comprehensive overview of the distribution of social and behavioural determinants of health and of physical and mental NCDs in the Nordic population. We examined regional, country and gender differences for 17 health outcomes and 20 determinants of health. We use data from the 7th wave of the European Social Survey. All results were age-standardised by weighting up or down the unstandardized (crude) prevalence rates for five year age groups in each country to a common standard. We present pooled estimates for the combined regional samples as well as country-specific results for the Nordic region. Overall, the population of the Nordic region reported among the highest prevalence for one or both genders in 10 out of 17 health outcomes. Despite being the region with the highest prevalence for most health outcomes, overall self-rated health levels tend to be better in the Nordic region. Similarly, we found that the Nordic countries adhere to a healthier lifestyle and have better access to health care. Future studies should consider investigating further the association between health outcomes and determinants of health and how they are distributed in the Nordic societies.

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