Evolution of educational inequalities in site-specific cancer mortality among Belgian men between the 1990s and 2000s using a “fundamental cause” perspective
Abstract Background According to the “fundamental cause” theory, emerging knowledge on health-enhancing behaviours and technologies results in health disparities. This study aims to assess (trends in) educational inequalities in site-specific cancer mortality in Belgian men in the 1990s and the 2000...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2017-07-01
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| Series: | BMC Cancer |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12885-017-3461-8 |
| _version_ | 1819239956579614720 |
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| author | Katrien Vanthomme Hadewijch Vandenheede Paulien Hagedoorn Sylvie Gadeyne |
| author_facet | Katrien Vanthomme Hadewijch Vandenheede Paulien Hagedoorn Sylvie Gadeyne |
| author_sort | Katrien Vanthomme |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background According to the “fundamental cause” theory, emerging knowledge on health-enhancing behaviours and technologies results in health disparities. This study aims to assess (trends in) educational inequalities in site-specific cancer mortality in Belgian men in the 1990s and the 2000s using this framework. Methods Data were derived from record linkage between the Belgian censuses of 1991 and 2001 and register data on mortality. The study population comprised all Belgian men aged 50–79 years during follow-up. Both absolute and relative inequality measures have been calculated. Results Despite an overall downward trend in cancer mortality, educational differences are observed for the majority of cancer sites in the 2000s. Generally, inequalities are largest for mortality from preventable cancers. Trends over time in inequalities are rather stable compared with the 1990s. Conclusions Educational differences in site-specific cancer mortality persist in the 2000s in Belgium, mainly for cancers related to behavioural change and medical interventions. Policy efforts focussing on behavioural change and healthcare utilization remain crucial in order to tackle these increasing inequalities. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-23T14:00:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ec2fa00ca7894e0297b7effd4ece3da6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2407 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-23T14:00:21Z |
| publishDate | 2017-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Cancer |
| spelling | doaj.art-ec2fa00ca7894e0297b7effd4ece3da62022-12-21T17:44:20ZengBMCBMC Cancer1471-24072017-07-0117111110.1186/s12885-017-3461-8Evolution of educational inequalities in site-specific cancer mortality among Belgian men between the 1990s and 2000s using a “fundamental cause” perspectiveKatrien Vanthomme0Hadewijch Vandenheede1Paulien Hagedoorn2Sylvie Gadeyne3Interface Demography, Department of Social Research, Faculty of Economic and Social Sciences and Solvay Business School, Vrije Universiteit BrusselInterface Demography, Department of Social Research, Faculty of Economic and Social Sciences and Solvay Business School, Vrije Universiteit BrusselInterface Demography, Department of Social Research, Faculty of Economic and Social Sciences and Solvay Business School, Vrije Universiteit BrusselInterface Demography, Department of Social Research, Faculty of Economic and Social Sciences and Solvay Business School, Vrije Universiteit BrusselAbstract Background According to the “fundamental cause” theory, emerging knowledge on health-enhancing behaviours and technologies results in health disparities. This study aims to assess (trends in) educational inequalities in site-specific cancer mortality in Belgian men in the 1990s and the 2000s using this framework. Methods Data were derived from record linkage between the Belgian censuses of 1991 and 2001 and register data on mortality. The study population comprised all Belgian men aged 50–79 years during follow-up. Both absolute and relative inequality measures have been calculated. Results Despite an overall downward trend in cancer mortality, educational differences are observed for the majority of cancer sites in the 2000s. Generally, inequalities are largest for mortality from preventable cancers. Trends over time in inequalities are rather stable compared with the 1990s. Conclusions Educational differences in site-specific cancer mortality persist in the 2000s in Belgium, mainly for cancers related to behavioural change and medical interventions. Policy efforts focussing on behavioural change and healthcare utilization remain crucial in order to tackle these increasing inequalities.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12885-017-3461-8CancerMortalitySocioeconomic inequalityFundamental cause theory |
| spellingShingle | Katrien Vanthomme Hadewijch Vandenheede Paulien Hagedoorn Sylvie Gadeyne Evolution of educational inequalities in site-specific cancer mortality among Belgian men between the 1990s and 2000s using a “fundamental cause” perspective BMC Cancer Cancer Mortality Socioeconomic inequality Fundamental cause theory |
| title | Evolution of educational inequalities in site-specific cancer mortality among Belgian men between the 1990s and 2000s using a “fundamental cause” perspective |
| title_full | Evolution of educational inequalities in site-specific cancer mortality among Belgian men between the 1990s and 2000s using a “fundamental cause” perspective |
| title_fullStr | Evolution of educational inequalities in site-specific cancer mortality among Belgian men between the 1990s and 2000s using a “fundamental cause” perspective |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evolution of educational inequalities in site-specific cancer mortality among Belgian men between the 1990s and 2000s using a “fundamental cause” perspective |
| title_short | Evolution of educational inequalities in site-specific cancer mortality among Belgian men between the 1990s and 2000s using a “fundamental cause” perspective |
| title_sort | evolution of educational inequalities in site specific cancer mortality among belgian men between the 1990s and 2000s using a fundamental cause perspective |
| topic | Cancer Mortality Socioeconomic inequality Fundamental cause theory |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12885-017-3461-8 |
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