scholarly journals Promoting equity through monitoring inequalities in the semi-rural region of Girona

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
P Batlle Amat ◽  
L Lazaro-Lasheras ◽  
S Oliveras ◽  
X Perafita ◽  
A Tarrés ◽  
...  

Abstract Problem Girona's region is a semi-rural territory with 750,000 h located in the northeast of Spain. There is no system to monitor health, well-being and health inequalities. This causes a lack of local public health equity policies. Description Design, implementation and results of participatory process, carried out over 6 months, to identify the information and data needs to be monitored locally for social determinants and health inequalities. Process has 4 phases: Selection of technical and political profiles representing coastal and inland, rural and urban municipalities linked to the fields of social determinants of health.Diagnosis: 2.1. Systematic collection of information through: i) Self-administered online questionnaire, sent to 250 policy makers and 580 technicians. ii) 6 focus groups 2.2. Data analysis to prioritize data and information needs.Evaluation and conclusions.Dissemination of results and transfer of knowledge. Results Involve actors in the identification of health information needs and their determinants permit to build a shared model of indicators. Spread the model of social determinants and their effects on health and well-being, increasing awareness of inequalities and health strategy in all policies. Identify the need to adjust some state and international indicators locally to be useful in local proximity policies. Lessons Involving local stakeholders has enabled the Girona's Observatory of Social Determinants of Health and Well-being to respond more efficiently to the information needs of technical and political decision makers. Indicators for monitoring health and inequality at the state and international levels need to be lowered at the local level so that they can be heard in the decision-making process of actors at the local level. Key messages It is necessary to adjust international health indicators to territorial realities in order to adjust local health and wellness policies. Local policies need health and wellness monitoring indicators to guide their policies.

2013 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sian Lockwood

PurposeThis paper seeks to explore the potential of micro‐enterprises to assist local health and well‐being boards in delivering their strategies, especially in relation to tackling health inequalities, prevention and community support.Design/methodology/approachThis paper draws on experience gained by Community Catalysts from its work supporting social care and health micro‐enterprise across the UK. There has been little formal research into social care and health micro‐enterprise and so the paper relies heavily on data gathered by Community Catalysts in the course of its work and uses local case studies to illustrate points.FindingsThe paper explains the importance of social care and health micro‐enterprise to the work of health and well being boards, emphasising its potential to help tackle health inequalities and contribute to effective health and well‐being strategies.Originality/valueThere are no examples as yet of imaginative health and well‐being boards engaging effectively with micro‐providers, but boards can draw on learning from local authorities actively stimulating and supporting local micro‐enterprise.


Author(s):  
Susan M. Sawyer ◽  
George C. Patton

This chapter describes how the profile of physical and mental health and well-being changes across adolescence. The biological context of healthy adolescent growth and development is reviewed, including secular patterns of puberty and brain maturation. The structural and social determinants of adolescent health are then described. Adolescent health outcomes, including patterns of risk behaviors, emerge from the interaction between biological influences and social health determinants. Estimates of mortality and disability-adjusted life years are used to describe three patterns of adolescent health and well-being that vary by age, sex, and national wealth. Globally, the burden of disease increases across adolescence, varying markedly between and within countries. Comprehensive, multisectoral, evidence-informed actions are required that match these conspicuous adolescent health problems, emerging health risks, and major social determinants. Such actions, including quality education and health services, differ greatly from those that benefit younger children yet have similarly high benefit–cost ratios.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. J. McGeechan ◽  
D. Woodall ◽  
L. Anderson ◽  
L. Wilson ◽  
G. O’Neill ◽  
...  

Research highlights that asset-based community development where local residents become equal partners in service development may help promote health and well-being. This paper outlines baseline results of a coproduction evaluation of an asset-based approach to improving health and well-being within a small community through promoting tobacco control. Local residents were recruited and trained as community researchers to deliver a smoking prevalence survey within their local community and became local health champions, promoting health and well-being. The results of the survey will be used to inform health promotion activities within the community. The local smoking prevalence was higher than the regional and national averages. Half of the households surveyed had at least one smoker, and 63.1% of children lived in a smoking household. Nonsmokers reported higher well-being than smokers; however, the differences were not significant. Whilst the community has a high smoking prevalence, more than half of the smokers surveyed would consider quitting. Providing smoking cessation advice in GP surgeries may help reduce smoking prevalence in this community. Work in the area could be done to reduce children’s exposure to smoking in the home.


2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 697-713 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katy Gordon ◽  
Juliette Wilson ◽  
Andrea Tonner ◽  
Eleanor Shaw

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the impacts of social enterprise on individual and community health and well-being. It focusses on community food initiatives, their impact on the social determinants of health and the influence of structure on their outcomes. Design/methodology/approach Using an interpretive qualitative approach through case studies focussed on two community food social enterprises, the research team conducted observations, interviews and ad hoc conversations. Findings Researchers found that social enterprises impacted all layers of the social determinants of health model but that there was greater impact on individual lifestyle factors and social and community networks. Impact at the higher socio-economic, cultural and environmental layer was more constrained. There was also evidence of the structural factors both enabling and constraining impact at all levels. Practical implications This study helps to facilitate understanding on the role of social enterprises as a key way for individuals and communities to work together to build their capabilities and resilience when facing health inequalities. Building upon previous work, it provides insight into the practices, limitations and challenges of those engaged in encouraging and supporting behavioural changes. Originality/value The paper contributes to a deeper insight of the use, motivation and understanding of social enterprise as an operating model by community food initiatives. It provides evidence of the impact of such social enterprises on the social determinants of health and uses structuration theory (Giddens, 1984) to explore how structure both influences and constrains the impact of these enterprises.


2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 281-287
Author(s):  
Amal A. Kokandi ◽  
Jafar Salman Alkhalaf ◽  
Asmaa Mohammedsaleh

Physical activity is known to have benefits on health and well-being. The aim of this study was to assess the quality of life domains (using WHOQOL-Bref) in relation to the level of physical activity in young healthy adults at Saudi Arabia. An online questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF and IPAQ) was sent to adults without special needs in Saudi Arabia aged 18 years and more. In total 1026 completed the questionnaire. Females were 767 and males were 250 (9 were missing). Results of this study showed that IPAQ total score was significantly correlated with WHOQOL-BREF physical, psychological and social relationships health scores. Additionally, the high PA group had a significantly higher WHOQOL-BREF for all domains (physical, psychological, social relationships and environmental health scores) compared to the low PA group. Male subjects had a significantly higher physical health score than female subjects, however, female subjects had a significantly higher social relationships score. In conclusion, high physical activity is linked with high better quality of life in all domains.


Author(s):  
Yasmeen K. Kazi ◽  
Anita G. Shenoy ◽  
Gajanan D. Velhal ◽  
Suresh D. Mate ◽  
Sudam R. Suryawanshi

Background: HBSC seeks to identify and explore the extent of the inequalities related to socioeconomic status (SES), age and gender among the younger age group, and highlight the need for preventive action. Hence, this study was carried out, to find out the social context as a determinant of their health and well-being. The objectives of the study were to study the socio-demographic characteristics of the students; to find the social determinants and its association with their perceived health outcomes.Methods: The study was carried out among 426 Municipal school students in Mumbai. They were enquired about their socio demographic characteristics, their personal habits and behaviour, relationship with their parents, siblings and friends, performance in school, academic pressures, and also about any health related complaints if they had. Results: The study shows less communication of students with their parents, more so with their fathers’. Students were seen to have more friends and would also spend more time with them, especially boys. Academic achievement was better among girls and those from less affluent families and it also showed a dip in the higher age groups. Regular consumption of breakfast, fruits, vegetables was seen less among girls and older students. Boys and those from less affluent families were seen to be more involved in high risk behaviour. Conclusions: All the factors mentioned in the study are shown to have adverse effects on the perceived health outcome of the students. These social factors need to be addressed to improve the health and well-being of the younger generations. 


2019 ◽  
Vol 87 (1) ◽  
pp. 52-62
Author(s):  
Kelli Young ◽  
Abrielle Dodington ◽  
Catherine Smith ◽  
Carol S. Heck

Background. Sexuality is an important dimension of one’s health and well-being. Studies show that occupational therapists regard clients’ sexual health as a legitimate domain of practice but do not adequately address it in their clinical work. Purpose. This study aims to describe occupational therapists’ perspectives regarding clients’ sexual health. Method. This exploratory study surveyed Canadian occupational therapists using an online questionnaire that collected information on beliefs, knowledge, comfort, barriers, and facilitators with regard to addressing sexuality. Descriptive analysis was conducted on questionnaire data, and content analysis was used to organize respondents’ comments. Findings. While most respondents believed that addressing sexuality was within their scope, few actually did so in practice. Participants reported comfort with sexuality but identified lack of knowledge as a barrier to addressing clients’ sexual health. Implications. This study provided a greater understanding of factors that require consideration for occupational therapists to effectively meet clients’ sexual health needs.


When considering the provision of healthcare services, it is necessary to examine action at a local level and problems that local health service providers must face. This is essentially because it is within individual communities and neighbourhoods that most public healthcare interventions take place. Local intervention is also important in order to coordinate a more even pattern of healthcare provision across the regions. There are significant disparities between regions and inter-regions of the UK. Recent cuts to public services, welfare benefits, and public employment have severely affected those regions. This chapter will thus explore health inequalities and inequity of supply across the devolved administrations, regions, and sub-regions. It will then review policy to address health inequalities and consider to what extent the current public health service governance framework, and especially health service provision at the local level, can mitigate disparities in health outcomes. It includes a short section on the response to the Covid-19 pandemic in the regions.


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