From income inequality to social inequity: impact on health levels in an international efficiency comparison panel
Abstract Background Health equity, although addressed in several publications dealing with health efficiency analysis, is not easily translated into the operationalization of variables, mainly due to technical difficulties. Some studies provide evidence that it does not influence health outcomes; ot...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2021-04-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-10395-7 |
| _version_ | 1818579885614956544 |
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| author | Simone Schenkman Aylene Bousquat |
| author_facet | Simone Schenkman Aylene Bousquat |
| author_sort | Simone Schenkman |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Health equity, although addressed in several publications dealing with health efficiency analysis, is not easily translated into the operationalization of variables, mainly due to technical difficulties. Some studies provide evidence that it does not influence health outcomes; others demonstrate that its effect is an indirect one, with the hegemony of material living conditions over its social connotation. The aim of this article is to evaluate the role of health equity in determining health outcomes, in an international comparative analysis of the effectiveness and efficiency of health systems. Method Fixed Effects Model Panel and Data Envelopment Analysis, a dynamic and network model, in addition to comparative analysis between methods and health impacts. The effect variables considered in the study were life expectancy at birth and infant mortality, in 2010 and 2015, according to the sociocultural regions of the selected countries. Inequity was assessed both economically and socially. The following dimensions were considered: physical and financial resources, health production (access, coverage and prevention) and intersectoral variables: demographic, socioeconomic, governance and health risks. Results Both methods demonstrated that countries with higher inequity levels (regarding income, education and health dimensions), associated or not with poverty, are the least efficient, not reaching the potential for effective health outcomes. The outcome life expectancy at birth exhibited, in the final model, the following variables: social inequity and per capita health expenditure. The outcome infant mortality comprehended the level of education variable, in association with the following healthcare variabels: care seeking due to diarrhea in children under five, births attended by skilled health professionals and the reduction in the incidence of HIV. Conclusion The dissociation between the distribution of health outcomes and the overall level of health of the population characterizes a devastating political choice for society, as it is associated with high levels of segregation, disrespect and violence from within. Countries should prioritize health equity, adding value to its resources, since health inequties affect society altogether, generating mistrust and reduced social cohesion. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-16T07:08:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3d78babaadfe4f60b32c3f04393e9331 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-16T07:08:49Z |
| publishDate | 2021-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-3d78babaadfe4f60b32c3f04393e93312022-12-21T22:39:58ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582021-04-0121111710.1186/s12889-021-10395-7From income inequality to social inequity: impact on health levels in an international efficiency comparison panelSimone Schenkman0Aylene Bousquat1Department of Policies, Management and Health, Faculdade de Saúde Pública - FSP (School of Public Health), Universidade de São Paulo - USP (Sao Paulo University)Department of Policies, Management and Health, Faculdade de Saúde Pública - FSP (School of Public Health), Universidade de São Paulo - USP (Sao Paulo University)Abstract Background Health equity, although addressed in several publications dealing with health efficiency analysis, is not easily translated into the operationalization of variables, mainly due to technical difficulties. Some studies provide evidence that it does not influence health outcomes; others demonstrate that its effect is an indirect one, with the hegemony of material living conditions over its social connotation. The aim of this article is to evaluate the role of health equity in determining health outcomes, in an international comparative analysis of the effectiveness and efficiency of health systems. Method Fixed Effects Model Panel and Data Envelopment Analysis, a dynamic and network model, in addition to comparative analysis between methods and health impacts. The effect variables considered in the study were life expectancy at birth and infant mortality, in 2010 and 2015, according to the sociocultural regions of the selected countries. Inequity was assessed both economically and socially. The following dimensions were considered: physical and financial resources, health production (access, coverage and prevention) and intersectoral variables: demographic, socioeconomic, governance and health risks. Results Both methods demonstrated that countries with higher inequity levels (regarding income, education and health dimensions), associated or not with poverty, are the least efficient, not reaching the potential for effective health outcomes. The outcome life expectancy at birth exhibited, in the final model, the following variables: social inequity and per capita health expenditure. The outcome infant mortality comprehended the level of education variable, in association with the following healthcare variabels: care seeking due to diarrhea in children under five, births attended by skilled health professionals and the reduction in the incidence of HIV. Conclusion The dissociation between the distribution of health outcomes and the overall level of health of the population characterizes a devastating political choice for society, as it is associated with high levels of segregation, disrespect and violence from within. Countries should prioritize health equity, adding value to its resources, since health inequties affect society altogether, generating mistrust and reduced social cohesion.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-10395-7Health equityEfficiencyEffectivenessHealth systemsCapitalismIncome inequality |
| spellingShingle | Simone Schenkman Aylene Bousquat From income inequality to social inequity: impact on health levels in an international efficiency comparison panel BMC Public Health Health equity Efficiency Effectiveness Health systems Capitalism Income inequality |
| title | From income inequality to social inequity: impact on health levels in an international efficiency comparison panel |
| title_full | From income inequality to social inequity: impact on health levels in an international efficiency comparison panel |
| title_fullStr | From income inequality to social inequity: impact on health levels in an international efficiency comparison panel |
| title_full_unstemmed | From income inequality to social inequity: impact on health levels in an international efficiency comparison panel |
| title_short | From income inequality to social inequity: impact on health levels in an international efficiency comparison panel |
| title_sort | from income inequality to social inequity impact on health levels in an international efficiency comparison panel |
| topic | Health equity Efficiency Effectiveness Health systems Capitalism Income inequality |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-10395-7 |
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