Building capacity to reduce health inequalities through health promotion in Europe

Abstract

Aim: Whilst considerable attention has been paid to describing and measuring health inequalities, relatively little attention has been paid to ways to effectively reduce health inequalities within and among populations. This paper presents a conceptual framework for capacity building to assist stakeholders at the regional level within Europe to maximise the potential of healthy public policies and practices to reduce these inequalities, as a core part of strategic action plans to access European Structural Funds. Subject and Methods:Within the ACTION-FOR-HEALTH (A4H) project co-funded by the European Commission (EC), a conceptual framework for capacity building to reduce health inequalities was developed and evaluated. The evaluation design adopted mixed methods involving a series of focus groups (n=22), interviews (n=14) and questionnaires (n=34) involving the project partners.Results: We present the A4H conceptual framework that is based on a series of capacity building actions comprising three key areas: (1) developing knowledge and skills; (2) building partnerships, and; (3) creating action plans. The evaluation data shows that the project contributed to enhancing capacities in all three of these areas, at the regional, organisational, and individual levels. Conclusion:Focusing mostly on building capacities, the A4H project has the potential to have several sustainable outcomes. Our results underscore the importance of the capacity building approach for the reduction of health inequalities in Europe.

Is Capacity Building Training Effective for Changing Attitudes toward Health Inequalities? Experience from a Norway Grants Project in Lithuania

“…The results from our study illustrate that capacity-building seminars can have a considerable impact on both understanding and preparedness for addressing health inequalities. Our findings are in line with similar studies that evaluated the effectiveness of capacity-building seminars for an increased awareness of health inequalities [ 16 ] and other public health issues [ 17 ]. Therefore, it is expected that Norway Grants support and the completed training will have a sustainable effect and facilitate the further reduction of health inequalities in Lithuania [ 18 ].…”

Rural health enterprises in the EU context: a systematic literature review and research agenda

“…This is the main reason that the EU strongly supports local and regional development through its structural funds. Based on these, specifically focused actions have been aimed at reduce existing inequalities, supporting cohesion, improving standards of living conditions, supporting entrepreneurship and innovation and, at the same time, promoting public health systems (Neagu et al , 2018; Dziembała, 2017; Gugglberger et al , 2016; European Commission, 2007).…”

“…In any case, entrepreneurship can be treated as a motive power for growth across a number of areas (Acs and Armington, 2004; Romanelli and Schoonhoven, 2001; Storey and Johnson, 1987), as a mean for the establishment of resilient economic systems that can transform and reanimate rural areas (Svallfors and Tyllström, 2018; Apostolopoulos et al , 2019; Morrison et al , 2017; Berglund and Johansson, 2007), and as a way to inspire people to improve their quality of life (McElwee et al , 2018). Indeed, RHEs contribute to the development and growth of rural areas as well as to the improvement of living conditions for their residents (Neagu et al , 2018; Dziembała, 2017; Gugglberger et al , 2016; Stathopoulou et al , 2004; Laukkanen and Niittykangas, 2003). However, remote areas experience an “entrepreneurial lag”, due to their natural and socio-economic characteristics (Vaillant and Lafunte, 2007).…”