Monitoring health inequalities at the municipal level: Lithuanian experience
Author(s)
Kaseliene, Snieguole
Mesceriakova-Veliuliene, Olga
Vladickiene, Jurgita
Kalediene, Ramune
Seseikaite, Neringa
Stankunas, Mindaugas
Griffith University Author(s)
Year published
2017
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
This study aimed to assess the attitudes of Lithuanian public health professionals towards health inequality monitoring in municipalities. The survey was conducted in public health bureaus (PHBs) and administrations of municipalities in March 2015. All employees of PHBs, all municipal doctors and all employees of health departments were invited to participate in the study (N=318; response rate, 47.2%). The study participants had positive attitudes towards the importance of health inequality monitoring at the municipal level, meanwhile systematic health inequality monitoring was assessed moderately. The majority of the ...
View more >This study aimed to assess the attitudes of Lithuanian public health professionals towards health inequality monitoring in municipalities. The survey was conducted in public health bureaus (PHBs) and administrations of municipalities in March 2015. All employees of PHBs, all municipal doctors and all employees of health departments were invited to participate in the study (N=318; response rate, 47.2%). The study participants had positive attitudes towards the importance of health inequality monitoring at the municipal level, meanwhile systematic health inequality monitoring was assessed moderately. The majority of the interviewed professionals working at PHBs and municipalities (91.4% and 88.2%, respectively) declared that health indicators were monitored and analysed in their institutions. The respondents acknowledged the importance of routine monitoring of health indicators for assessment of inequalities, but these indicators were not monitored systematically in every municipality and PHB. Public health professionals identified the following measures for better health inequality monitoring: to strengthen intersectoral collaboration, formulate specific objectives of health programmes, promote actions in reducing health inequalities. Public health professionals working at the municipal level outlined the importance of monitoring and reducing health inequalities. However, health inequality monitoring at the municipal level was considered as insufficient.
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View more >This study aimed to assess the attitudes of Lithuanian public health professionals towards health inequality monitoring in municipalities. The survey was conducted in public health bureaus (PHBs) and administrations of municipalities in March 2015. All employees of PHBs, all municipal doctors and all employees of health departments were invited to participate in the study (N=318; response rate, 47.2%). The study participants had positive attitudes towards the importance of health inequality monitoring at the municipal level, meanwhile systematic health inequality monitoring was assessed moderately. The majority of the interviewed professionals working at PHBs and municipalities (91.4% and 88.2%, respectively) declared that health indicators were monitored and analysed in their institutions. The respondents acknowledged the importance of routine monitoring of health indicators for assessment of inequalities, but these indicators were not monitored systematically in every municipality and PHB. Public health professionals identified the following measures for better health inequality monitoring: to strengthen intersectoral collaboration, formulate specific objectives of health programmes, promote actions in reducing health inequalities. Public health professionals working at the municipal level outlined the importance of monitoring and reducing health inequalities. However, health inequality monitoring at the municipal level was considered as insufficient.
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Journal Title
Open Medicine
Volume
12
Issue
1
Subject
Public health
Science & Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Medicine, General & Internal
General & Internal Medicine
Health inequalities