scholarly journals Socioeconomic inequalities in health and the use of healthcare services in Catalonia: analysis of the individual data of 7.5 million residents

2018 ◽  
Vol 72 (10) ◽  
pp. 871-879 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna García-Altés ◽  
Dolores Ruiz-Muñoz ◽  
Cristina Colls ◽  
Montse Mias ◽  
Nicolau Martín Bassols
Keyword(s):  
Health Status ◽  
Prescription Drugs ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Socioeconomic Inequalities ◽  
Early Years ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Public Healthcare ◽  
Socioeconomic Level ◽  
Inequalities In Health

BackgroundThe aim of this study is to analyse the health status, the use of public healthcare services and the consumption of prescription drugs in the population of Catalonia, taking into consideration the socioeconomic level of individuals and paying special attention to vulnerable groups.MethodsCross-sectional study of the entire population resident in Catalonia in 2015 (7.5 million people) using administrative records. Twenty indicators are analysed related to health, the use of healthcare services and consumption of prescription drugs. Rates, frequencies and averages are obtained for the different variables stratified by age groups (under 15 years, 15–64 years and 65 years or older), gender and socioeconomic status (calculated on the basis of pharmacy copayment levels and Social Security benefits received).ResultsA socioeconomic gradient was observed in all the indicators analysed, in both sexes and in all age groups. Morbidity, use of mental healthcare centres, hospitalisation rates and probability of drug consumption among children is 3–7 times higher for those with low socioeconomic level respect to those with a higher one. In children and adults, the steepest gradient was found in the use of mental health services. Moreover, there are gender inequalities.ConclusionThere are significant socioeconomic inequalities in health status and in the use of healthcare services in the population of Catalonia. To respond to this situation, new policies on health and other areas, such as education and employment, are required, especially those that have an impact on early years.

scholarly journals COVID-19 healthcare policies in Ireland: A rapid review of the initial pandemic response

2021 ◽  
pp. 140349482110083
Author(s):  
Noreen O’leary ◽  
Liz Kingston ◽  
Anne Griffin ◽  
Ann-marie Morrissey ◽  
Maria Noonan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Policy Development ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Target Population ◽  
Analysis Data ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Rapid Review ◽  
Infection Prevention And Control ◽  
Public Healthcare

Aims: Healthcare systems urgently required policies to guide the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this review was to document the healthcare policies developed during the initial wave of widespread COVID-19 transmission in Ireland. We further sought to determine the key focus and impact of these policies. Methods: We conducted a rapid review of COVID-19 healthcare policies published from 28 January to 31 May 2020. Key information including the focus of the policy, target population and impact on service delivery was extracted from included policies. During analysis, data was grouped under descriptive categories and narrative summaries were developed for each category. Results: We identified 61 healthcare policies relating to COVID-19. We developed six category headings to describe the focus and impact of these policies: infection prevention and control ( n = 19), residential care settings ( n = 12), maintaining non-COVID-19 healthcare services and supports ( n = 12), testing and contact tracing ( n = 7), guidance for healthcare workers concerning COVID-19 ( n = 6), and treating COVID-19 ( n = 5). Conclusions: This review has identified lessons for policy development and implementation to help prepare for future healthcare emergencies. Factors to consider include support of vulnerable groups during and in the aftermath of the pandemic, providing psychological supports for healthcare workers and investment in public healthcare services such as contact tracing for future emergencies. While pandemic conditions necessitate the speedy development of policies, effective communication and adequate resourcing is required to ensure policy implementation.

scholarly journals El adulto mayor y la universalidad de la salud: Análisis de desigualdad basado en una comparación entre los diferentes grupos de edad

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 1073
Author(s):  
Karla Hernández-Villafuerte
Keyword(s):  
Costa Rica ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Significant Contribution ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Healthcare Systems ◽  
Socioeconomic Inequalities ◽  
Individual Factors ◽  
Socioeconomic Conditions ◽  
Inequalities In Health ◽  
The Rich

Costa Rica accounts for one of the best healthcare systems in Latin-American. However, the combination between the increase in socioeconomic inequalities and the ageing of the population raises some concerns about the possibility of an increase in healthcare inequalities. This is a consequence of the positive relationship between socioeconomic conditions and health status which has been demonstrated in previous studies. Therefore, the aim here is to examine the inequalities in health presented in Costa Rica, and to compare the differences between elderly (aged 60 or over) and other age groups. Health Inequalities are measured through the Erreygers Concentration Index. This index is broken down into individual factors that could make a significant contribution to the creation of inequalities in health. Significant socioeconomic inequalities in health have been found, with the proportion of healthy people higher among the rich than among the poor, with differences being particularly significant between 50 and 69 year olds.

scholarly journals Socioeconomic inequalities in health during the Great Recession: A scoping review of the research literature

2018 ◽  
Vol 47 (6) ◽  
pp. 635-654 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristian Heggebø ◽  
Anne Grete Tøge ◽  
Espen Dahl ◽  
John Erik Berg
Keyword(s):  
Scoping Review ◽  
Great Recession ◽  
English Language ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Socioeconomic Inequalities ◽  
Research Literature ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Occupational Class ◽  
Inequalities In Health ◽  
The Great Recession

Aims: The so-called ‘Great Recession’ in Europe triggered widespread concerns about population health, as reflected by an upsurge in empirical research on the health impacts of the economic crisis. A growing body of empirical studies has also been devoted to socioeconomic inequalities in health during the Great Recession. The aim of the current study is to summarise this health inequality literature by means of a scoping review. Methods: We have performed a scoping review of the research literature (English language) published in the years 2012–2017. Only empirical papers with (a) health status measured on the individual level, (b) information on socioeconomic position (i.e. employment status, educational level, income/wealth, and/or occupational class), and (c) data from European countries in both pre- and post-crisis years were considered relevant. In total, 49 empirical studies fulfilled these inclusion criteria. Results: The empirical findings in the 49 included studies predominantly show that socioeconomic inequalities in health either increased or remained stable from pre- to post-crisis years. Two-thirds (65%) of the studies found evidence of either increasing or partially increasing health inequalities. Thus, people in lower socioeconomic strata fared worse overall in terms of health during the Great Recession, compared to people with higher socioeconomic status. Conclusions: The Great Recession in Europe tends to be followed by increasing socioeconomic inequalities in health. Policymakers should take note of this finding. Widening socioeconomic inequalities in health is a major cause of concern, in particular if health deterioration among ‘vulnerable groups’ is caused by accelerating cumulative disadvantages.

scholarly journals Prevalence of stunting and overweight/obesity among Brazilian children according to different epidemiological scenarios: systematic review and meta-analysis

2016 ◽  
Vol 134 (3) ◽  
pp. 251-262 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolina Pereira da Cunha Sousa ◽  
Ricardo Alves de Olinda ◽  
Dixis Figueroa Pedraza
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Public Healthcare ◽  
Social Inequity ◽  
Prevalence Studies ◽  
Brazilian Children

ABSTRACT: CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Within the Brazilian nutritional panorama, coexistence of antagonistic nutritional disorders can be seen, especially the increasing prevalence of overweight and the persistence of significant rates of chronic malnutrition in vulnerable groups of the population. Because these are major public health problems, this study aimed to ascertain the prevalence of stunting and overweight/obesity among Brazilian children according to different epidemiological scenarios. DESIGN AND SETTING: This was a systematic review of prevalence studies, developed at the State University of Paraíba. METHODS: The SciELO, Lilacs and PubMed databases were searched for articles, using specific keywords. Articles published between 2006 and 2014 were selected. The review was conducted by two reviewers who worked independently. A systematic review with meta-analysis was conducted, for which the studies were grouped within different epidemiological settings. RESULTS: Among the 33 articles recovered, 9 involved samples from daycare centers, 4 had samples from public healthcare services or social registers, 5 related to populations in situations of social inequity and 15 were population-based. Higher chances of stunting were found in populations in situations of social inequity and in those at public healthcare services or on social registers, in relation to reference populations. For overweight/obesity, none of the scenarios had a higher chance than the reference. CONCLUSION: Among Brazilian children, stunting continues to be a socially determined public health problem that mainly affects marginalized populations. This problem coexists with significant rates of overweight/obesity affecting all social groups.

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