scholarly journals Evaluating the effect of income support policies on social health inequalities (SHIs) at birth in Montreal and Brussels using a contextualised comparative approach and model family method: a study protocol

BMJ Open ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. e024015
Author(s):  
Mouctar Sow ◽  
Myriam De Spiegelaere ◽  
Marie-France Raynault
Keyword(s):  
Health Inequalities ◽  
Social Assistance ◽  
Social Health ◽  
Administrative Databases ◽  
Comparative Approach ◽  
Income Support ◽  
Poverty Level ◽  
Social Health Inequalities ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Model Family

IntroductionAssessing the effects of social policies on social health inequalities (SHIs) is a complex issue. Variations in social policy between countries or regions provide natural experiments in policy implementation to perform comparative research. Comparisons are most enlightening when: the object of the evaluation is well defined (types of policies, population groups); the context of policy is analysed (history, implementation); the impact of policy on household poverty is outlined in detail; the influence of various factors (other than poverty) on SHI is taken into consideration.Methods and analysisThis study aims to understand how income support policies (ISPs) in Brussels and Montreal influence the poverty level of households receiving social assistance, and how they are associated with SHI at birth. Two cases studies will be carried out from a comparative perspective. The analysis includes four stages : (1) The model family method will be used to compare ISPs and their impact on disposable income and poverty of households receiving social assistance in both regions. (2) Statistical analysis of administrative databases will enable the description and comparison of SHI in adverse pregnancy outcomes across the two regions. (3) Analysis of databases and documents will allow for description of various factors which are likely to interact with poverty and influence SHI at birth. (4) Based on the Diderichsen model, results from the previous stages will be used to formulate hypotheses about the mechanisms by which ISPs contribute to increasing or reducing SHI at birth in both regions.Ethics and disseminationThis research was approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee for Health research of Université de Montréal. In Belgium, the access to linked databases was approved by the Commission for the Protection of Privacy. Databases de-identified according to Belgian and Canadian legislation will be used. Results will be disseminated in scientific publications and will be shared with policy makers and field actors through collaborations with local organisations in Brussels and Montreal.

scholarly journals Unequal access to green space as a cause of a new category of health inequalities

2016 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
pp. 25-36
Author(s):  
Agnieszka Makarewicz-Marcinkiewicz
Keyword(s):  
Development Strategy ◽  
Health Inequalities ◽  
Green Space ◽  
Social Health ◽  
Legal Regulations ◽  
Direct Link ◽  
Green Areas ◽  
Social Health Inequalities ◽  
Unequal Access ◽  
The Impact

Unequal access to green space as a cause of a new categoryof health inequalitiesThe article presents the influence of unequal access to green space on human health, resulting in the formation of health inequalities. The work is based on the hypothesis that unequal access to green areas in the place of residence and leisure, largely determined by the level of income and the scope of implementation of sustainable development strategy by the state, contributes to deepening social health inequalities. The article analyses the attitude towards the impact of access to green space on health present in official documents and related researchIt also identifies a direct link between limited access to green space and social health inequalities. In the last part of the article, legal regulations concerning access to greenery in Poland are presented.

scholarly journals Using theory of change to develop an intervention theory for designing and evaluating behavior change SDApps for healthy eating and physical exercise: the OCAPREV theory

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Olivier Aromatario ◽  
Aurélie Van Hoye ◽  
Anne Vuillemin ◽  
Aude-Marie Foucaut ◽  
Jeanine Pommier ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Behavior Change ◽  
Health Inequalities ◽  
Healthy Eating ◽  
Theory Of Change ◽  
Social Health ◽  
Smart Devices ◽  
Intervention Theory ◽  
Causal Pathway ◽  
Social Health Inequalities ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Connected health devices and applications (referred to hereafter as “SDApps” - Smart devices and applications) are being portrayed as a new way for prevention, with the promise of accessibility, effectiveness and personalization. Many effectiveness evaluations (experimental designs) with strong internal validity exist. While effectiveness does appear to vary, the mechanisms used by these devices have not yet been thoroughly investigated. This article seeks to unpack this black box, and describes the process of elaboration of an intervention theory for healthy eating and physical activity SDApps. It includes a set of requirements relative to their impact on social health inequalities. Methods To build this theory, we drew on theory-driven approaches and in particular on the theory of change (ToC) method. To this end, we developed a cumulative and iterative process combining scientific data from the literature with knowledge from experts (researchers and practitioners) and from patients or users. It was a 3-step process, as follows: 1 - identifying the evidence base; 2 - developing the theory through design intervention and creating realistic expectations, including in our case specific work on social health inequalities (SHIs); 3 - modeling process and outcome. Results We produced an evidence-based theory according to the ToC model, based on scientific evidence and knowledge from experts and users. It sets out a causal pathway leveraging 11 key mechanisms - theoretical domains - with which 50 behavior change techniques can be used towards 3 ultimate goals: Capacity, Opportunity, Motivation – Behavior (COM-B). Furthermore, the theory specifically integrates requirements relative to the impact on SHIs. Conclusions This theory is an aid to SDAapp design and evaluation and it can be used to consider the question of the possible impact of SDApps on the increase in inequalities. Firstly, it enables developers to adopt a more overarching and thorough approach to supporting behavior change, and secondly it encourages comprehensive and contributive evaluations of existing SDApps. Lastly, it allows health inequalities to be fully considered.

scholarly journals The choice of a diet quality indicator to evaluate the nutritional health of populations

2000 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 357-365 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lise Dubois ◽  
Manon Girard ◽  
Nathalie Bergeron
Keyword(s):  
Health Inequalities ◽  
Diet Quality ◽  
Eating Habits ◽  
Social Health ◽  
Dietary Recommendations ◽  
Nutrition Survey ◽  
Nutritional Health ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Social Health Inequalities ◽  
The Impact

AbstractBackgroundThe USA and Canada both want to reduce social health inequalities in their population. These two countries have recently begun a process of harmonization of their nutrient recommendations.ObjectiveTo develop a standardized indicator to measure the impact of these recommendations on the health of different social groups in North America. The authors have compared three of the methods currently used for measuring overall diet quality for a population.Design and settingThe three methods, adjusted to the 1990 Canadian nutrition recommendations, were used to analyse the Québec Nutrition Survey data collected by Santé Québec in 1990.ResultsThe authors found that the indicator developed by Kennedy and collaborators works best for analysing the Québec data. Moreover, it allows comparisons with the USA. Some questions, such as whether or not to add calories from alcohol consumption to the model and whether the indicators should be adjusted to the different cultures and specific population groups remain unanswered.ConclusionsIn order to determine the role of nutrition in social health inequalities, it is important to develop standard indicators that are suitable for monitoring the relationship between dietary recommendations and eating habits.

scholarly journals Did We Lose the War on Poverty?

1998 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dale W Jorgenson
Keyword(s):  
Household Income ◽  
Well Being ◽  
War On Poverty ◽  
Support Programs ◽  
Accurate Assessment ◽  
Income Support ◽  
Poverty Level ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The U.S ◽  
Economic Well Being

Official U.S. poverty statistics based on household income imply that the proportion of the U.S. population below the poverty level reached a minimum in 1973, giving rise to the widespread impression that the elimination of poverty is impossible. By contrast, poverty estimates based on household consumption have fallen through 1989 and imply that the war on poverty was a success. This paper recommends replacing income by consumption in official estimates of poverty in order to obtain a more accurate assessment of the impact of income support programs and economic growth on the level and distribution of economic well-being among households.

Social Health Inequalities in the Czech Republic

Epidemiology ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 17 (Suppl) ◽  
pp. S386-S387
Author(s):  
H Slachtova ◽  
H Tomaskova ◽  
D Skybova ◽  
P Polaufova ◽  
I Tomasek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Health Inequalities ◽  
Social Health ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
Social Health Inequalities

scholarly journals TheorTheoretical Implications for the Analysis of Social Health Inequalities: A Discussionetical Implications for the Analysis of Social Health Inequalities: A Discussion

2019 ◽  
pp. 15-25
Author(s):  
Cristina Barboza-Solís DDS, MSc, PhD ◽  
Juan Pablo Sáenz-Bonilla MSc ◽  
Romain Fantin MSc ◽  
Ingrid Gómez-Duarte MD, MSc, PhD ◽  
Karol Rojas-Araya NP
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Latin America ◽  
Health Inequalities ◽  
Social Determinants ◽  
Historical Background ◽  
Social Health ◽  
World Health ◽  
Health Determinants ◽  
Social Health Inequalities ◽  
A Priority

Social health inequalities (or inequities) continue to represent a great challenge for public health research worldwide. Since 1991, the World Health Organization established that the study and analysis of health inequalities represented a priority for all countries. To better guide methodological and practical implications of health inequalities, research on this topic should present a solid theoretical model, able to impact future public health policies.  Previous studies of health inequalities in Latin America are often inspired from abroad experiences, encouraging the reproduction of mainly European theoretical positions and methodologies. However, especially when it comes to  this topic, it is known the important role of the social context and culture, playing an important role in promoting differences in health outcomes. From this perspective, to operationalize the different social determinants in health, a critical perspective and thoughtful analysis of the context is mandatory.  In order to provide a critical analysis and useful tools for both research and health decision making, we recommend that the theoretical and methodological approaches used in social health inequalities research must be well adapted to the specific contexts; that health social stratification must be assessed as a priority; that individual and the wider health determinants must be well characterized; and that the theoretical justification of the methodological decisions made in the studies and the selected measures must be explicit and should answer specific hypotheses.  This research provides a brief historical background, to share the basis for the conceptual evolution of social health inequalities; the main underlying concepts related to the definition of health inequalities (social determinants, equity, justice, stratification and social gradient in health); and some recommendations for the future perspectives of health inequalities research in Latin America.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document