Journal Article

Priorities for Research on Equity and Health: Towards an Equity-Focused Health Research Agenda

Vaghri, Ziba, Schrecker, Ted, Kelly, Michael P., Gilson, Lucy, Popay, Jennie, Lundberg, Olle, Bonnefoy, Josiane, Hertzman, Clyde, Sadana, Ritu, Sen, Gita, Labonté, Ronald, Muntaner, Carles, Östlin, Piroska, Kjellstrom, Tord

2011

Overview

Summary Points * Based on extensive review of global evidence, the recommendations of the WHO Commission on Social Determinants of Health highlight the need for strengthening research on health equity with a focus on social determinants of health. * To do so requires a paradigm shift that explicitly addresses social, political, and economic processes that influence population health; this shift is under way and complements existing research in medicine, the life sciences, and public health. * Reflecting further synthesis and stakeholder consultations, an agenda for future research on health equity is outlined in four distinct yet interrelated areas: (1) global factors and processes that affect health equity; (2) structures and processes that differentially affect people's chances to be healthy within a given society; (3) health system factors that affect health equity; and (4) policies and interventions to reduce health inequity. * Influencing regional and national research priorities on equity and health and their implementation requires joint efforts towards creating a critical mass of researchers, expanding collaborations and networks, and refining norms and standards, with WHO having an important role given recent mandates. Appropriate resources will further enable intensive efforts across WHO to integrate reduction of health inequities into national and regional research agendas and enable the WHO secretariat to facilitate Member States' requests related to resolution 62.14 [1]. (d) Ensuring that norms and standards for the monitoring and assessment of health inequalities on multiple dimensions including class, gender, age, and ethnicity are updated and used in the course of data gathering, statistical analysis, and dissemination to support countries in their efforts and wider global monitoring.

• Publisher: Public Library of Science,Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subject: Analysis / Decision-making / Delivery of Health Care / Gender / Global Health / Health care / Health care reform / Health Policy / Health Priorities / Health Services Research - standards / Health Status Indicators / Humans / International Cooperation / Life sciences / Medical research / Medicine / Organizational Objectives / Policy Forum / Political aspects / Public health / Stakeholders / Surveys / Task forces / World Health Organization