In recent years, a considerable number of countries have developed
and implemented strategies aiming at reducing inequalities in health.
However, knowledge of effective policies or strategies to reduce
socioeconomic inequalities in health is still very fragmented. The aim of
this book is to describe and compare different European health equity
strategies and their potential successes.
The main part of the material comes from a comparative study of
national public health strategies for equity in health with the following
participating countries: Denmark, Finland, England, Italy, Netherlands,
Norway, Spain and Sweden. National experts wrote the country chapters
which not only cover questions concerning whether their countries
were taking measures on the individual public health problems – such
as smoking, alcohol or physical activity – but also if the policies had
considered the wider, social determinants of health and experiences of
the potential implementation processes.
This publication presents an up-to-date picture concerning equity-
oriented
public health policies in Europe. However, there is considerable
lack of relevant data to enable comprehensive comparisons and
analyses of successes and problems with the implementation and
monitoring of health equity policies. We hope the book will stimulate
continued efforts to harmonise relevant data collections and improve
collaborative analyses aiming at shaping an evidence base for policy
decisions about the most effective ways to promote equity in health.