Improving equity in health: A research agenda

Authors
Citation
B. Starfield, Improving equity in health: A research agenda, INT J HE SE, 31(3), 2001, pp. 545-566
Citations number
50
Categorie Soggetti
Public Health & Health Care Science
Journal title
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEALTH SERVICES
ISSN journal
00207314 → ACNP
Volume
31
Issue
3
Year of publication
2001
Pages
545 - 566
Database
ISI
SICI code
0020-7314(2001)31:3<545:IEIHAR>2.0.ZU;2-V
Abstract
Equity in health and health care have become important priorities for the w orld. If efforts at achieving equity are to have any basis in evidence conc erning which strategies are likely to work, a research agenda is necessary, An adequate research agenda requires a knowledge of what the problem is, a n understanding of the genesis and correlates of the problem, methods to me asure these correlates, and rigorous testing of alternative explanations an d interventions. This article presents a working definition of equity in he alth and health services, a conceptual framework in which to view the vario us types of influence on health and distribution of health in populations, a summary of evidence on the effects of some of these categories, and a res earch agenda for guiding efforts to improve knowledge on which to base inte rventions that enhance the attainment of equity. Because of their relative neglect in the existing literature on equity in health, the special roles o f political forces and of primary care as a particularly key element of hea lth services are stressed.