Policies/Programs for Reducing Health Inequalities by Tackling Nonmedical Determinants of Health in the United Kingdom

Authors: Murty, Sharanya; Franzini, Luisa; Low, M. David; Swint, J. Michael

Source: Social Science Quarterly, Volume 90, Number 5, December 2009 , pp. 1403-1422(20)

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Abstract:

Objective.

To conduct a review of the policies and programs targeting the nonmedical determinants of health inequalities implemented at a national level in the United Kingdom. Methods.

Two U.K. Department of Health reports were used to identify policies/programs that were solely targeted toward alleviating the nonmedical causes of health inequalities. A review of gray literature was conducted to obtain detailed information about each policy/program. Results.

Several national-level policies and large-scale programs directed toward nonmedical determinants of health, primarily poverty, unemployment, lifecourse, housing and environment, and social exclusion, have been implemented in the United Kingdom. Several of these policies/programs have been shown to successfully improve population health status in national evaluations. Conclusions.

In the United States, there is currently an impetus to investigate health disparities and to provide recommendations for future policy action. This review can inform the national debate and provide guidelines to develop policy recommendations.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-6237.2009.00661.x

Affiliations: 1: School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Publication date: 2009-12-01