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Caldwell HAT, Yusuf J, Carrea C, Conrad P, Embrett M, Fierlbeck K, Hajizadeh M, Kirk SFL, Rothfus M, Sampalli T, Sim SM, Tomblin Murphy G, Williams L. Strategies and indicators to integrate health equity in health service and delivery systems in high-income countries: a scoping review. JBI Evid Synth 2024:02174543-990000000-00296. [PMID: 38632975 DOI: 10.11124/jbies-23-00051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objective of this review was to describe how health service and delivery systems in high-income countries define and operationalize health equity. A secondary objective is to identify implementation strategies and indicators being used to integrate and measure health equity. INTRODUCTION To improve the health of populations, a population health and health equity approach is needed. To date, most work on health equity integration has focused on reducing health inequities within public health, health care delivery, or providers within a health system, but less is known about integration across the health service and delivery system. INCLUSION CRITERIA This review included academic and gray literature sources that described the definitions, frameworks, level of integration, strategies, and indicators that health service and delivery systems in high-income countries have used to describe, integrate, and/or measure health equity. Sources were excluded if they were not available in English (or a translation was not available), were published before 1986, focused on strategies that were not implemented, did not provide health equity indicators, or featured strategies that were implemented outside the health service or delivery systems (eg, community-based strategies). METHODS This review was conducted in accordance with the JBI methodology for scoping reviews. Titles and abstracts were assessed followed by a full-text review. The information extracted consisted of study design and key findings, such as health equity definitions, strategies, frameworks, level of integration, and indicators. Most data have been quantitatively tabulated and presented according to 5 review questions. Some findings (eg, definitions and indicators) were summarized using qualitative methods. Most findings are visually presented in charts and diagrams or presented in tabular format. RESULTS Following review of 16,297 titles and abstracts and 824 full-text sources, we included 122 sources (113 peer-reviewed, 9 gray literature) in this scoping review. We found that health equity was inconsistently defined and operationalized. Only 17 sources included definitions of health equity and we found that both indicators and strategies were lacking adequate descriptions. The use of health equity frameworks was limited and, where present, there was little consistency or agreement in their use. We found that strategies were often specific to programs, services, or clinics, rather than broadly applied across health service and delivery systems. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that strategies to advance health equity work are siloed within health service and delivery systems and are not currently being implemented system-wide (ie, across all health settings). Healthy equity definitions and frameworks are varied in the included sources, and indicators for health equity are variable and inconsistently measured. Health equity integration needs to be prioritized within and across health service and delivery systems. There is also a need for system-wide strategies to promote health equity, alongside robust accountability mechanisms for measuring health equity. This is necessary to ensure that an integrated, whole-system approach can be consistently applied in health service and delivery systems internationally. REVIEW REGISTRATION Dal Space dalspace.library.dal.ca/handle/10222/80835. SUPPLEMENTAL DIGITAL CONTENT IS AVAILABLE FOR THIS REVIEW http://links.lww.com/SRX/A45.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hilary A T Caldwell
- Healthy Populations Institute, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Faculty of Health, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Joshua Yusuf
- Healthy Populations Institute, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Faculty of Health, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Cecilia Carrea
- Healthy Populations Institute, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Faculty of Health, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Patricia Conrad
- Healthy Populations Institute, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Faculty of Health, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | | | - Katherine Fierlbeck
- Healthy Populations Institute, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- MacEachen Institute for Public Policy and Governance, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Dalhousie Libraries, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Mohammad Hajizadeh
- Healthy Populations Institute, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Faculty of Health, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Sara F L Kirk
- Healthy Populations Institute, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Faculty of Health, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Melissa Rothfus
- Department of Political Science, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | | | - Sarah Meaghan Sim
- Healthy Populations Institute, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Faculty of Health, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Nova Scotia Health, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | | | - Lane Williams
- Healthy Populations Institute, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Faculty of Health, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
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Dietary Interventions for Healthy Pregnant Women: A Systematic Review of Tools to Promote a Healthy Antenatal Dietary Intake. Nutrients 2020; 12:nu12071981. [PMID: 32635332 PMCID: PMC7400659 DOI: 10.3390/nu12071981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Revised: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/29/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Maternal nutrition is essential for the development and lifelong health of the offspring. Antenatal care provides unique opportunities for nutrition communication, and health promotion tools (e.g., guidelines, instruments, packages, or resources) might help to overcome several concurrent barriers. We conducted a systematic literature review to map tools that are available for the promotion of a healthy dietary intake in healthy pregnant women in Western countries, and to identify what makes these tools feasible and effective for these women and their healthcare providers. Seventeen studies were included, evaluating tools with various delivery modes, content, and providers. Nine studies employed multiple, complementary delivery methods and almost all studies (n = 14) tailored the content to varying degrees, based on the individual characteristics and lifestyle behaviors of the participants. We found that the feasibility of a tool was dependent on practical issues, time investment, and providers’ motivation, skills, and knowledge, while the effectiveness was related more to the type of provider and the content. Most effective interventions were provided by dietitians and nutritionists, and were highly tailored. Based on the results of this review, we believe that custom tools that are sensitive to inequalities are needed to support all women in obtaining or maintaining a healthy diet during pregnancy.
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Socio-demographic inequalities across a range of health status indicators and health behaviours among pregnant women in prenatal primary care: a cross-sectional study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2015; 15:261. [PMID: 26463046 PMCID: PMC4604767 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-015-0676-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2015] [Accepted: 10/02/2015] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Suboptimal maternal health conditions (such as obesity, underweight, depression and stress) and health behaviours (such as smoking, alcohol consumption and unhealthy nutrition) during pregnancy have been associated with negative pregnancy outcomes. Our first aim was to give an overview of the self-reported health status and health behaviours of pregnant women under midwife-led primary care in the Netherlands. Our second aim was to identify potential differences in these health status indicators and behaviours according to educational level (as a proxy for socio-economic status) and ethnicity (as a proxy for immigration status). Methods Our cross-sectional study (data obtained from the DELIVER multicentre prospective cohort study conducted from September 2009 to March 2011) was based on questionnaires about maternal health and prenatal care, which were completed by 6711 pregnant women. The relationships of education and ethnicity with 13 health status indicators and 10 health behaviours during pregnancy were examined using multilevel multiple logistic regression analyses, adjusted for age, parity, number of weeks pregnant and either education or ethnicity. Results Lower educated women were especially more likely to smoke (Odds Ratio (OR) 11.3; 95 % confidence interval (CI) 7.6– 16.8); have passive smoking exposure (OR 6.9; 95 % CI 4.4–11.0); have low health control beliefs (OR 10.4; 95 % CI 8.5–12.8); not attend antenatal classes (OR 4.5; 95 % CI 3.5–5.8) and not take folic acid supplementation (OR 3.4; 95 % CI 2.7–4.4). They were also somewhat more likely to skip breakfast daily, be obese, underweight and depressed or anxious. Non-western women were especially more likely not to take folic acid supplementation (OR 4.5; 95 % CI 3.5–5.7); have low health control beliefs (OR 4.1; 95 % CI 3.1–5.2) and not to attend antenatal classes (OR 3.3; 95 % CI 2.0–5.4). They were also somewhat more likely to have nausea, back pains and passive smoking exposure. Conclusions Substantial socio-demographic inequalities persist with respect to many health-related issues in medically low risk pregnancies in the Netherlands. Improved strategies are needed to address the specific needs of socio-demographic groups at higher risk and the structures underlying social inequalities in pregnant women.
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Statham H, Solomou W, Green JM. Communication of prenatal screening and diagnosis results to primary-care health professionals. Public Health 2003; 117:348-57. [PMID: 12909426 DOI: 10.1016/s0033-3506(03)00080-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To describe how prenatal screening and diagnostic test results are communicated to primary care health professionals. DESIGN Postal questionnaire. SETTING Primary care practices across London, East Anglia, the Southeast and Southwest of England. PARTICIPANTS 714 community-based health professionals (GPs, midwives and health visitors) identified by 247 women (participants in a study of experiences after a positive prenatal diagnosis) as members of their primary care team. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Description of how information about prenatal screening and diagnostic test results is communicated to health professionals working in the primary care team. Participants' views about the timeliness and sufficiency of the information they are given. RESULTS 131 GPs, 143 midwives and 151 health visitors returned questionnaires, an overall response rate of 60.4%. Sixteen percent of primary care professionals reported that they were not usually informed of high-risk results after serum screening for Down's syndrome. Twenty eight percent were either not usually told about the possibility of abnormalities detected on ultrasound or only heard of such abnormalities from the woman herself. Even when informed, 28% of midwives and GPs did not know what action they were expected to take. Information about confirmed abnormalities is not always communicated to primary care. Only 29% were told soon enough about diagnosed abnormalities and only 17% of health professionals reported that the information they were given was always sufficient to allow them to discuss issues with their patients. The presence of specialist screening coordinators was perceived to be helpful by 76% of health professionals. Improvements in how they were told about abnormalities were suggested and these included the need for systems and protocols that ensured that quality information was communicated quickly. CONCLUSIONS The frequent absence of means of effective communication between primary and secondary care about diagnosed abnormalities, and health professionals' uncertainties about their role has implications for the quality of care given to women who receive positive results after prenatal screening or diagnosis. There is a need for standards to be established concerning the communication of information to the health professionals responsible for the community-based care of pregnant women after a positive test result.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen Statham
- Centre for Family Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3RF, UK.
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