The Role of Socioeconomic Determinants in Children's Health.

Q3 Medicine
Tânia Russo, João Pereira
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引用次数: 0

Abstract

After many years of being portrayed as a major achievement of the health service, child health in Portugal has recently come under scrutiny after an increase in infant deaths. Commentators have pointed to unequal access to healthcare and poorly monitored pregnancies of migrant mothers as possible causes. In this context, we revisit the socioeconomic determinants of children's health, reflecting on how various factors such as parental income and education, immigration, ethnicity, and social policies exert their influence on child health. Socioeconomic determinants have long been recognised, but their importance is often overlooked in the field of child health. The authors discuss theoretical approaches such as the worlds of influence framework proposed by UNICEF and consider various pathways through which socioeconomic determinants shape children's health, namely, the so-called material, psychological, behavioural, and structural pathways. The authors then move on to consider the empirical literature, drawing attention to factors such as life course, socioeconomic disadvantage, deprived neighbourhoods, poverty and income, household and family characteristics, parental education, ethnic diversity, and immigration. Finally, policy implications are considered, with the authors arguing that a multisectoral and coordinated approach, embracing both social and public health interventions, is required. Guaranteeing universal access to services that promote healthy early child development - including early childcare and education and efforts to reduce childhood poverty - is central to promoting equity. Classic public health policies, such as health surveillance and prevention programs, especially targeted at the preconception period, gestation, and childhood, are also important. In geographical areas with a strong immigrant presence, specific programs designed to facilitate integration should be available. If we are to improve child health and make sure that none are left behind, we need to focus attention on a broad range of socioeconomic determinants.

社会经济决定因素在儿童健康中的作用。
多年来,葡萄牙的儿童健康一直被描绘为卫生服务的一项重大成就,但在婴儿死亡率上升后,最近,葡萄牙的儿童健康受到了密切关注。评论人士指出,获得医疗保健的机会不平等,以及对移民母亲怀孕的监管不力,都是可能的原因。在此背景下,我们重新审视儿童健康的社会经济决定因素,反思父母收入和教育、移民、种族和社会政策等各种因素如何对儿童健康产生影响。社会经济决定因素长期以来一直得到承认,但它们在儿童健康领域的重要性往往被忽视。作者讨论了诸如联合国儿童基金会提出的影响世界框架等理论方法,并考虑了社会经济决定因素影响儿童健康的各种途径,即所谓的物质、心理、行为和结构途径。然后,作者继续考虑实证文献,提请注意诸如生命历程、社会经济劣势、贫困社区、贫困和收入、家庭和家庭特征、父母教育、种族多样性和移民等因素。最后,考虑了政策影响,作者认为,需要采取包括社会和公共卫生干预措施在内的多部门和协调的方法。保障普遍获得促进儿童早期健康发展的服务——包括早期托儿和教育以及努力减少儿童贫困——是促进公平的核心。经典的公共卫生政策,如健康监测和预防计划,特别是针对孕前期、妊娠期和儿童期,也很重要。在有大量移民存在的地理区域,应提供旨在促进融合的具体方案。如果我们要改善儿童健康并确保不让任何一个儿童掉队,我们就需要将注意力集中在广泛的社会经济决定因素上。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
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来源期刊
Portuguese Journal of Public Health
Portuguese Journal of Public Health Medicine-Health Policy
CiteScore
2.60
自引率
0.00%
发文量
20
审稿时长
55 weeks
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