Health Equity - Science topic

Background Health behavior theories are scientific frameworks used to inform health behavior interventions to address health-related issues, given their use in understanding and modifying behavior change. Purpose We aimed to assess how theory-informed health behavior interventions utilize health equity frameworks and methods. Methods Using the PR...

Community relationships play a crucial role in shaping the effectiveness and equity of healthcare delivery systems. This paper explores the significance of these relationships, examining their impact on healthcare service delivery, patient experiences, and overall health outcomes. Effective community relationships facilitate improved access to heal...

Introdução: O Brasil é o país que mais matou as travestis e as pessoas trans nos últimos quinze anos. Além disso, violações de direitos são cometidas quando essas pessoas buscam as mais diversas políticas públicas, inclusive as da pasta da saúde. Objetivo: Investigar, na literatura brasileira, barreiras de acesso aos serviços públicos de saúde enfr...

Aim To review the application of artificial intelligence (AI), specifically computer vision, in analyzing built environment (BE) characteristics within public health research, with a focus on spatial equity. Subject and methods We conducted a rapid review of peer-reviewed articles (2014–2024) in English that integrated AI or computer vision in pub...

Universal health coverage (UHC) is a critical target in many health system strategies to achieve ‘good health and wellbeing’. Evidence on the meaning and scope of UHC and the strategies required to achieve it are needed, as variations in its understanding and implementation have risen. This realist review was conducted to fill the knowledge gap by...

Introduction Children and young people with neurodisability (conditions affecting the brain or nervous system, creating functional impairment, eg, autism, learning disabilities, epilepsy, cerebral palsy or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) have more complex health and educational needs than their peers, contributing to higher healthcare use...

Telehealth has emerged as a critical solution for improving healthcare access, particularly in rural and underserved areas. In the context of maternal care, telehealth has the potential to address significant challenges such as limited access to healthcare providers, transportation barriers, and high maternal mortality rates. This paper explores bo...

Introduction Under-vaccination among underserved groups remains low due to existing disparities. This is particularly the case with postpandemic COVID-19 vaccinations and other vaccine-preventable diseases, including measles, mumps, rubella or influenza. Therefore, we aim to (1) determine the feasibility and practicality of implementing a patient e...

Backgrounds Cancer fatalism, the belief that cancer is predetermined and unpreventable, is associated with lower uptake of cancer prevention. Little is known about cancer fatalism prevalence within various Asian origin groups. Methods We conducted a disaggregated analysis of cancer fatalism among Chinese, Filipino, Indian, Vietnamese, and other As...

Telehealth has emerged as a transformative tool in addressing healthcare disparities, particularly in the realm of maternal health. This paper examines the impact of telehealth on maternal health equity, focusing on how it bridges the gap between urban and rural healthcare systems. While urban areas often have better access to maternal care provide...

Health equity is a right stipulated by United Nations charters and is a basic topic of interest in humanitarian assistance professions, including social work. The principles of health equity are based on achieving parity in the delivery and provision of human services and satisfying the health needs of disadvantaged individuals, groups, and communi...

Solutions to advance oral health equity require a deeper understanding only achieved though partnership with the communities deeply impacted by barriers to care. While numerous studies and dental public health reports published over the years demonstrate a need for oral health equity, there is a paucity of literature regarding community engagement...

Objectives To examine the intersectional associations between migration experiences and use of health and sex work community-based services among women sex workers. Design Data were drawn from An Evaluation of Sex Workers Health Access, a community-based cohort of sex workers from September 2014 to February 2022. Bivariate and multivariable regres...

Objective To analyze the trends and cross-country inequalities in the burden of Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) over the past 30 years and forecast potential changes through 2045. Methods Estimates and 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs) for incidence, deaths, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) associated...

Introduction Health Equity Assessments (HEAs) are decision‐support frameworks or tools used to evaluate the equity impacts of policies, programmes and initiatives. However, HEAs are often conducted without meaningful engagement from the individuals and communities most affected by health inequities. This lack of social participation limits the rele...

Introduction The application of artificial intelligence (AI) in public health is rapidly evolving, offering promising advancements in various public health settings across Canada. AI has the potential to enhance the effectiveness, precision, decision-making, and scalability of public health initiatives. However, to leverage AI in public health with...

Background The limited allocation of resources to rural and regional communities is a major contributor to healthcare inequities in Australia. Distribution of health service resources between metropolitan and rural communities commonly sees highly populated areas prioritised over more sparsely populated and geographically vast areas. As such, chall...

Background This scoping review aimed to identify existing information and gaps in knowledge regarding the diversity characteristics of the multiple sclerosis (MS) population in Canada. Methods We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cumulated Index in Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), SCOPUS and ProQuest's global dataset of theses and dissertati...

Background Globally, health and social care systems have been responding to the demand for better integrated service delivery to tackle complex public health and socioeconomic challenges. Similarly, services in the United Kingdom strive for comprehensive, person-centred care to support health equity and improved quality of life. This study took pla...

Background Cardiac computed tomography angiography (CCTA), the premier coronary artery disease (CAD) rule-out test, is less available in rural areas (vs urban) in the US. To address this gap, we previously developed a test using non-invasive signals and a machine-learned algorithm, usable anywhere with internet. We trained the algorithm using US po...

People need to consume goods and services that support health, such as nutritious food, medical care, and quality housing, throughout their lives. Many of these goods and services are allocated using markets, which means that people need income to provide purchasing power for these goods and services. However, everyone has times when supporting the...

Urban health planning is an informed process for the provision of full physical and psychological health and well-being for all inhabitants by setting health-oriented policies, creating an appropriate system of urban health planning and improving the social, economic and physical determinants of the city. The main objective of urban health planning...

Background: This study examines differences in life expectancy between Germany’s most affluent and most deprived areas. Methods: Nationwide data from the cause-of-death statistics from 2003 to 2022 were linked with official population data to calculate the average life expectancy of females and males in each of Germany’s districts. Regression anal...

There is no doubt that each year, NCDs cause 40 million deaths worldwide and are typically caused by a confluence of genetic, physiological, environmental, and behavioural factors. This review targeted investigating the epidemiology, prevention and management of NCDs. The four major NCDs in the world are heart disease, cancer, chronic respiratory d...

Climate change and air pollution are interrelated challenges with profound implications for public health, equity, and resilience in Europe. This study investigates relationships between climate, air quality, and health across European countries (2005-2020) as part of the DataNord/Healthy Planet project. Using reanalysis, remote sensing, and observ...

Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) are an important instrument of evidence-based medicine. They structure medical care on the organizational level and can help standardize care and implement best practice standards. However, if their implementation leads to systematic group-specific disadvantages, CPGs may reproduce institutional discrimination. T...

Introduction Childhood is a critical period where access to medical controls and health policies can severely affect health equity. Objectives Analyzed to subnational Chile health system's resilience in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic regarding child health. The focus of the research was to assess the performance of Chile Crece Contigo's social...

Background: Pregnant people in Canada during the pandemic faced complex decision-making related to COVID-19 exposure risks and the safety of mitigation measures, including vaccines. To help inform future infectious disease–health promotion, we assessed pandemic pregnancy experiences and COVID-19 risk mitigation strategies. Methods: Respondents, pre...

Malaria remains a significant public health challenge in Uganda, disproportionately affecting rural areas where the majority of the population resides. Despite global and national efforts to reduce malaria prevalence, resource allocation and funding for malaria research in rural Uganda remain insufficient to address the unique challenges these regi...

OBJECTIVES Growth of global health education programs has blossomed over the past two decades in the United States; yet many do not address the roots of colonialism and racism in medicine. This paper highlights the Arrupe Global Scholars and Partnerships Program (AGSPP) at Creighton University, a social justice and innovative five-year MD-MPH globa...

This review paper analyzes telehealth applications to eliminate healthcare disparities within the United States when measured against COVID-19 pandemic requirements. The analysis focuses on how telehealth services achieved improved healthcare accessibility for racial and ethnic minority groups and rural populations as well as individuals with limit...

Introduction: This paper explores the development of the Realist Implementation Action Research Lab (RIAL), a participatory learning site aimed at addressing health disparities among Adivasi communities in India. Despite national health improvements, Adivasis face significant health inequities. RIAL employs a realist-inspired, theory-driven design...

Despite the commitments assumed and health`s declarations made in the last 80 years; it is a fact recognized by the international organizations that health equity still remains to be achieved in the majority of countries. In addition, there is a lack of agreements in order to define and advance towards systemic policies that can achieve this challe...

Introduction Healthcare utilization in China decreased precipitously during the initial outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, and women were disproportionately affected. As the COVID-19 pandemic has proven to be far more pervasive and persistent than many first surmised, a vital question is whether the utilization of non-COVID related healthcare has r...

This literature review examines the multifaceted challenges and strategies related to health equity within public health initiatives. It highlights the critical importance of addressing structural barriers and historical injustices perpetuating health disparities among marginalized communities. Key strategies for improving health equity, such as co...

Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) play a crucial role in shaping individual and population health outcomes. Integrating SDOH data into Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS) has the potential to enhance patient care by providing comprehensive insights into social, economic, and environmental factors influencing health. This paper explores the...

Background: An initiative of the National Cancer Institute's Center for Cancer Health Equity (CCHE), TEAM supports trainees from backgrounds underrepresented in cancer biomedical and behavioral sciences research. CRCHD funded two TEAM programs at Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) in September 2023 following a competitive application process. Com...

Abstract Care-oriented perspectives in the LGBTIQ+ community are essential to ensure adequate and comprehensive health care. This population has faced multiple barriers imposed by society, including weak access to health services. This research aims to analyze the nursing student's care perspective about sexual and gender diversity. A qualitative p...

Background Access to healthcare significantly influences health outcomes, and rural, regional and remote populations face greater challenges in accessing healthcare than urban populations. Digital health tools, such as remote patient monitoring (RPM), have significant potential to address these healthcare challenges, yet there is little research on...

Objective To assess the acknowledgement and mitigation of sex bias within studies using supervised machine learning (ML) for improving clinical outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Design A systematic review of original studies published in English between 2018 and November 2023. Data sources PUBMED and EMBASE databases. Study selection Studie...

Student mental health remains a top priority for higher education. In recent years, scholars have been paying increasing attention to social determinants of mental health, including how systems of social inequality disproportionately burden certain groups with stressful life conditions and lead to adverse mental health outcomes. Yet, current theory...

Rationale Research on how social mobility impacts health has primarily focused on developed countries or regions, with a notable absence of in-depth examination into the underlying mechanisms responsible for these influences. Objective This paper utilizes data from the 2021 Chinese General Social Survey to focus on the health effects of social mob...

Background Maintaining sleep health in the elderly is of great significance for promoting health equity. The elderly usually experience more social losses, which may lead to many health problems. Few studies have revealed the relationship between social losses and sleep disturbance in the elderly. This study aims to investigate the relationship bet...

Background A rapid and equitable response is paramount to mitigating the spread and impact of an infectious disease public health emergency. Unfortunately, public health responses often integrate equity as a secondary component rather than a foundational one—a decision that can result in disproportionate effects of the epidemic on vulnerable popula...

Background With the explosion of techniques for recording electrical brain activity, our recognition of neurodiversity has expanded significantly. Yet, uncertainty exists regarding sex differences in electrical activity during sleep and whether these differences, if any, are associated with social parameters. We synthesised existing evidence applyi...

Introduction Gender-affirming care (GAC) includes interventions aimed at supporting an individual’s gender identity. Canada is experiencing an increase in referrals for GAC, higher than any other health service; therefore, there is a need for a systematic approach to health outcome measurement to effectively evaluate care. This review aims to analy...

Background: Minoritized racial and ethnic groups in the United States face long-standing disparities in a variety of health outcomes, owing to inequitable distribution of social and structural determinants of health along racial and ethnic lines. Although the existence of such disparities has long been a topic of scientific inquiry, there has been...

Background Health equity is a commonly asserted goal of health systems. However, there is a limited understanding on how best to promote equity as a part of health system reform initiatives. We conducted a scoping review to (1) identify and characterise strategies that promote health equity during the design and implementation of health system refo...

Background: The National Bleeding Disorders Foundation (NBDF) consistently hears from lived experience experts about daily challenges preventing them from leading their best life and thriving physically, mentally, and emotionally. Dedicated to enabling people and families impacted by inheritable blood and bleeding disorders (BDs) to thrive, NBDF re...

Proactive, action-oriented dissemination planning is still too rare for community-engaged research teams. To fill this gap, a national program for community-engaged research teams addressing health inequities developed a training to support dissemination planning. Our objectives in this paper are to 1) describe the curricular components that suppor...

Purpose To examine socioeconomic disparities in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and healthcare use during the last year of life of patients with advanced cancer. Methods Data was used from a prospective, longitudinal, multicenter, observational study of patients with advanced cancer in forty Dutch hospitals (eQuiPe). Adult patients with sta...

Background: Effective and scalable strategies are needed to develop health research capacity in low- and middle‑income countries (LMICs). Health research capacity strengthening (HRCS) focuses on boosting production and utilization of health research, with clinicians as key target participants. Despite the increased prevalence of virtual HRCS progra...

The midday meal (MDM) program is vital in improving nutritional status and academic outcomes, particularly among basic school students from economically needy backgrounds. The MDM program provides nutritious meals to enhance school attendance, concentration on learning, class activities, and overall academic performance. This study synthesizes data...

Despite national initiatives to enhance healthcare accessibility, unmet healthcare needs in South Korea remain notably high, particularly in specific regions. This study investigated the factors contributing to geographical disparities in unmet healthcare needs by employing spatial regression models to examine the spatial interactions between healt...

Background Ontario, being one of Canada’s largest provinces, has been central to the high incidence of human Mpox. Research is scarce on how socio-environmental factors influence Mpox incidences. This study seeks to explore potential geographical correlations and the relationship between indicators of social marginalization and Mpox incidence rate...

The health disparities experienced by gender-diverse youth have not yet been adequately examined within specific pediatric populations, such as chronic pain. Furthermore, such disparities need to be examined within the context of the COVID-19 global pandemic, a time when clinicians observed an increase in gender-diverse patients seeking care for pe...

Background Community Outreach and Engagement (COE) teams at National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers are tasked with engaging communities to understand and address the burden of cancer within their catchment area. This helps cancer center leadership identify priorities and develop strategic plans to reduce the cancer burden...

Purpose State and District Comprehensive Cancer Control (CCC) plans often do not include priorities for all individuals within their state or district borders. In particular, American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) people experience persistent cancer disparities, yet their inclusion in CCC plans has not been examined. Our study systematically rev...

Spatial social polarization (SSP) refers to the uneven spatial distribution and subsequent concentration of polarized social and/or economic groups in a specified geographic area. However, there is heterogeneity in how SSP is measured and operationalized in research. To this end, we conducted a scoping review to characterize the use of SSP measures...

To share lessons learned from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s Brooklyn Breastfeeding Empowerment Zone initiative to increase breastfeeding duration rates in the Brooklyn Community Districts (CDs) of Bedford-Stuyvesant and Brownsville, and to evaluate the degree to which the initiative mobilized community support, and imp...

Lesbian/gay, bisexual, transgender/nonbinary, queer (LGBTQ+) adolescents experience health inequities driven by minority stressors, and there are too few theory-based, community-informed interventions for improving health among LGBTQ+ adolescents. The purpose of this article is to describe the systematic development of an online program for trainin...

Social pain is the metaphorical equivalent of physical pain triggered by thought, emotion, interpersonal problems, and expectations. The consensus on the role of social pain in understanding and managing opioid misuse is yet to be reached, although social pain is generally recognized as a potentiator of physical pain. The purpose of this systematic...

Aim We reviewed how artificial intelligence has been applied to inform care coordination by identifying and/or intervening in patients' unmet social needs. Design Scoping review. Data Sources PubMed, CINAHL, PsycInfo, and Scopus databases were searched for articles published by November 2023. Methods Articles were excluded if they were reviews o...

Background Health Sector Reform (HSR) in Iran was implemented in two phases, in 2005 and 2014, financed through a governmental health insurance model managed by the Iranian Health Insurance Organization (IHIO). This study mainly aimed to evaluate the outcomes of HSR by analyzing trends in hospitalization rates and associated expenditures among the...

The paper discusses plant conservation strategies for protecting endangered species. It highlights the importance of plant biodiversity, its significance, and the consequences of its loss. The abstract also outlines various conservation techniques, including in-situ and ex-situ protection, specific management systems, and biotechnological methods....

Objectives—The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Minority Health released the National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) in Health Care to improve health care quality and advance health equity. Challenges may arise when applying these stadards in a dental education setting. Participants wi...

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are pivotal in addressing some of the world's most pressing challenges. These technologies are transforming healthcare, reducing inequalities, and fostering environmental sustainability, all while contributing to the realization of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In he...

Introduction Physicians are an indispensable part of the healthcare system, crucial for maintaining public health. Since the issues in market-oriented healthcare reform emerged in 2003, China has implemented a series of healthcare system reforms to improve the equitable distribution of medical resources. The impact of these reform measures on the p...

Objectives To identify barriers to and strategies for improving the representation of pregnant people from marginalized communities in pregnancy cohort studies that measure environmental chemicals. Methods Guided by the Arksey O’Malley and Levac Frameworks, we conducted a scoping review of peer-reviewed literature published between 2000 and 2022....

This paper systematically discusses the impact of kitchen environment design on users’ well-being. Based on the user-centered design concept, this paper focuses on the theoretical framework of positive psychology and combines quantitative and qualitative research methods. Firstly, using bibliometric analysis tools (CiteSpace 6.1.R1 and VOSviewer 1....

Background Heart failure (HF) is the leading cause of mortality, morbidity, and rehospitalization in Appalachia. Rural areas have the highest HF mortality rates. Rural Appalachians lack access to health services and end-of-life palliative care (EOLPC) and have extreme inequities in health. Methods The aim of this mixed methods randomized controlle...

Heart failure (HF) remains a significant health challenge globally, placing a heavy burden on individuals, families, and healthcare systems. The prevalence of HF continues to rise, posing substantial public health concerns. This burden is particularly pronounced among the Black Population, who face higher prevalence, earlier onset, and greater seve...

Despite improvements in health indices over the past decades, Cambodia faces significant challenges in achieving universal health coverage (UHC). With an effective UHC score of 58 in 2021 – lower than regional neighbours – the country struggles with disparities in health care access, urban-rural inequalities, and rising non-communicable diseases. T...

Large-scale national biobank projects utilizing whole-genome sequencing have emerged as transformative resources for understanding human genetic variation and its relationship to health and disease. These initiatives, which include the UK Biobank, All of Us Research Program, Singapore’s PRECISE, Biobank Japan, and the National Project of Bio-Big Da...

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic degenerative joint disease with an increasing global burden, particularly among the working-age population. This study aims to analyze the temporal trends in OA burden by age and sex globally from 1990 to 2021, focusing on incidence, prevalence, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) rates, and to predict future...

The study aims to explore how public policies influence the structure and provision of healthcare services, ensuring universal and equitable access for the population. The methodology adopted was the Integrative Literature Review, based on the six-step model, using the Virtual Health Library and Web of Science databases, considering studies publish...

Background Data on the social determinants of health could be used to improve care, support quality improvement initiatives, and track progress toward health equity. However, this data collection is not widespread. Artificial intelligence (AI), specifically natural language processing and machine learning, could be used to derive social determinant...

Purpose of Review Type 2 diabetes (T2D) disproportionately impacts minority populations. The National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) developed a research framework to encourage health disparities research that considers a multi-level, multi-domain perspective. The purpose of this review was to describe evidence on the l...

Background Ageism and ageing anxiety are obstacles to health equity in the community. This study aims to assess ageism and ageing anxiety in Egypt and to elaborate on factors associated with ageism among Egyptians. Method We conducted a cross-sectional online survey on 359 adult Egyptians using a predesigned questionnaire to assess socio-demograph...

Racial and ethnic minoritized groups and socioeconomically disadvantaged communities experience longstanding health-related disparities in the United States and were disproportionately affected throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. How departments of public health can explicitly address these disparities and their underlying determinants remains less u...

Non-insured individuals face unique challenges when accessing emergency department (ED) care in Canada. This qualitative study explores the firsthand experiences of non-insured patients within the ED to understand how we can improve the system of care. This community-based research was conducted in collaboration with a community health center which...

Background Life expectancy is a vital indicator of a country’s health and progress. Low-income countries face uncertainty regarding the long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, driven by health expenditure levels, concerns over rising child mortality rates, and decreasing per capita income. These factors challenge life expectancy and demand urgen...

The modern healthcare landscape demands easily accessible, timely, and patient-focused healthcare services. Though the primary health-care serves as the important pillar of healthcare delivery, increasing patient needs demands innovative and technology-based models. Integrating urgent care services and minor procedures within primary care settings...

Purpose Poor clinician-patient communication may contribute to racialized inequities in cancer symptom burden. Shared decision-making (SDM) enhances clinician-patient communication, and could contribute to health equity for Black patients with cancer. However, research on SDM is limited for Black patients with cancer. Methods This multi-method lon...

Healthcare financing systems in the United Kingdom and Switzerland were compared with a focus on efficiency and equity. The United Kingdom’s National Health Service em- ploys the Beveridge model. It is predominantly funded through taxation and aims to provide free healthcare at the point of use. Switzerland’s healthcare financing system is based on...

This review summarizes how socioeconomic elements affect health outcomes while showing their critical nature for understanding inequalities in population health. The review investigates socioeconomic factors such as financial circumstances, education, working situations and levels of support to determine their effects on health choices and healthca...

This chapter explores the urgent need to dismantle race-based frameworks in medical education and clinical practice. It critiques the historical influence of the Flexner Report and other entrenched biases that have shaped medical curricula, resulting in training models that often perpetuate racial stereotypes and systemic disparities in patient car...