Tackling the wider determinants of health and health inequalities: evidence from systematic reviews
The authors conducted a review of systematic reviews, or “umbrella review,” to identify and synthesize evidence about the impact of non-healthcare interventions on health outcomes and health “inequalities.” The review, which was commissioned by England’s Department of Health, identified 30 systematic reviews of interventions involving the social determinants of health in North America, Europe, Australasia, and Japan. All of the included reviews investigated links between health outcomes and 1) housing and living environment, 2) work environment, 3) transport, 4) health and social care services, 5) unemployment and welfare, 6) agriculture and food, and 7) water and sanitation.
Only three of the 30 reviews included data about the health impacts on different social groups. No reviews were identified that focused on interventions relating to macroeconomic, cultural and environmental conditions. The researchers found some evidence that housing and work environment interventions have the potential to tackle health inequalities. The authors conclude that evidence supporting social determinants interventions is weak, despite the presence of sector-wide policies aimed at improving health through social interventions.
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Reference
Bambra, C., Gibson, M., Sowdon, A., Wright, K., Whitehead, M., & Petticrew, M. (2010). Tackling the wider social determinants of health and health inequalities: Evidence from systematic reviews. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 64, 284-291
Tags: Evaluation, Healthy public policy, Intersectoral action, Socioeconomic status, Working conditions, Participate in policy development, Report / Document