Cochrane Health Equity Field (The)
Newsletter: Equity Update. 2008 Mar 3;2(1).
“….Their aim is to encourage authors of Campbell and Cochrane reviews to include explicit descriptions of the effect of the interventions not only on the whole population but to describe their effect upon the disadvantaged and/or their ability to reduce socioeconomic inequalities in health and to promote their use to the wider community. Ultimately, this will help build the evidence base on such interventions and increase our capacity to act on the health gap between rich and poor.
Although there is controversy over the definition, one useful definition of health inequalities is, "the virtually universal phenomenon of variation in health indicators ... associated with socioeconomic status" (Last 1995); inequalities may also be seen between genders or geographic groups, for example. Health inequalities require three components for calculation: a valid measure of health status, a measure of social position or status, and a statistical method for summarizing the magnitude of the health differences between people in different social positions. Health inequities "are unfair and remediable inequalities" (International Society for Equity in Health 2005). …”
Convenors
Prof Mark Petticrew, Public & Environmental Health Research Unit, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
Dr. Peter Tugwell, Centre for Global Health, Institute of Population Health, University of Ottawa, Canada
Administrator Erin Morris, Centre for Global Health, Institute of Population Health, University of Ottawa, Canada
International Advisory Board
The Advisory Board serves as the central coordinating body and provides guidance on the Field's scope, review methods, sources of evidence funding, dissemination and related issues. Members advise on priorities and possible collaborations, monitor progress and liaise with other Cochrane and non-Cochrane organizations to promote the Field. Members also comment on draft documentation.
Board Members
Luis Gabriel Cuervo
Tony Dans (Philippines)
Elizabeth Kristjansson (Canada)
Ron Labonte (Canada)
Rene Loewenson (Zimbabwe)
Johan Mackenbach (Netherlands)
Andy Oxman (Norway)
Mark Petticrew (UK)
Peter Tugwell (Canada)
Jimmy Volmink (South Africa)
Elizabeth Waters (Australia)