Health promotion journal of Australia : official journal of Australian Association of Health Promotion Professionals
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Health Promot J Austr · Dec 2006
Comparative StudyThe social determinants of health: is there a role for health promotion foundations?
If they are to respond effectively to health inequities, organisations involved in health promotion need to refocus on the social determinants of health (SDH) and the distribution of resources for health. ⋯ The public purpose, enterprise and innovation potential of health promotion foundations provides them with unique capacity to respond to SDH. In the complex and contested policy environment surrounding action on the determinants of health, the role that foundations can most usefully play is that of a change agent in a broader social movement seeking health equity.
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Health Promot J Austr · Dec 2006
Federal, State and Territory government responses to health inequities and the social determinants of health in Australia.
Planned actions by governments can play an important part in addressing the social determinants of health and health inequities. We assess the extent to which Australian health departments are committed to health equity as a core value, and the extent to which strategic directions and policies show evidence of action and achievement in reducing health inequities and attention to the social determinants of health. ⋯ Although substantial health inequities exist in Australia there is explicit or implicit recognition of the underlying value of equity within all jurisdictions and some policies designed to increase health equity in all. However, in most jurisdictions health equity could be more explicitly incorporated into core government and health department strategies and initiatives, and there is room for the development of the capacity to monitor change over time in access to services, quality of care, and improved health outcomes.