Skip Navigation

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Disclaimer
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by WHITEHEAD, M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by WHITEHEAD, M.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

Health Promotion International, Vol. 6, No. 3, 217-228, 1991
© Oxford University Press 1991

other

The concepts and principles of equity and health

MARGARET WHITEHEAD

Consultant, Whitchurch, Shropshire, United Kingdom

Address for correspondence: Margaret Whitehead The Old School Ash Magna Whitchurch Shropshire SY 13 4DR United Kingdom

All the 32 member states in the World Health Organization European Region adopted a common health policy in 1980), followed by unanimous agreement on 38 regional targets in 1984. The first of these targets is concerned with equity.

Target 1: "By the year 2000, the actual differences in health status between countries and between groups within countries should be reduced by at least 25%, by improving the level of health of disadvantaged nations and groups" (WHO, 1985a).

In addition, equity is an underlying concept in many of the other targets. At present, the targets are being reassessed and revised, in particular moving away from a focus on physical health status as measured by mortality to encompass, wherever possible, many other dimensions of health and well-being. But still the underlying concept of equity in health has been judged to be just as important for the 1990s as it was when the programme began (WHO, 1985b).

However, it has not always been clear what is meant by equity and health and this paper sets out to clarify the concepts and principles. This is not meant to be a technical document, but one aimed at raising awareness and stimulating debate in a wide general audience, including all those whose policies have an influence on health, both within and outside the health sector.

Key words: health service accessibility; health status; socio-economic factors


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Health Aff (Millwood)Home page
P. L. Hebert, J. E. Sisk, and E. A. Howell
When Does A Difference Become A Disparity? Conceptualizing Racial And Ethnic Disparities In Health
Health Aff., March 1, 2008; 27(2): 374 - 382.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 HEALTH PROMOT INTHome page
A. Lee, F. F. K. Cheng, and L. St Leger
Evaluating health-promoting schools in Hong Kong: development of a framework
Health Promot. Int., June 1, 2005; 20(2): 177 - 186.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Health Education JournalHome page
T. Lang and M. Caraher
Access to healthy foods: part II. Food poverty and shopping deserts: what are the implications for health promotion policy and practice?
Health Education Journal, January 1, 1998; 57(3): 202 - 211.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Disclaimer:
Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.