2.1. Community-centred design of integrated social and health care services that address the social determinants of health equity
Effectively addressing the social determinants of health equity (SDHE) requires service models centred on individuals and driven by the community. This area encourages active participation from communities in the design, implementation and evaluation of integrated health and social care systems. It also ensures that different services are integrated and responsive to the specific needs of the local population.
Examples from SIMASHE
Incorporating caregiver networks into health plans in Lao People’s Democratic Republic: In rural areas, informal caregiver networks have been integrated into local maternal health planning, leveraging their presence and influence to enhance service delivery in underserved areas – for example, by supporting women to deliver their babies in health facilities. Community-led action plans are collaboratively designed with these networks and families to address the unique needs of the community effectively.
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Integration of community networks through institutional mechanisms in Costa Rica: Cantonal Institutional Coordination Councils have facilitated the convening of community organizations and leaders from various sectors, focusing on local interests. In these meetings, they have prioritized specific community needs that affect health, such as access to water, road infrastructure and youth education.
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Key intervention activities
SIMASHE is constantly looking for examples related to this area of work, including activities for:
- supporting community leaders, caregivers and families as active partners in care models.
- integrating informal support networks and community programmes into service plans.
- maintaining and updating dynamic portals of community and local resources (i.e. community assets) for public access.
- building capacity for local teams to lead participatory planning and policy design.
- co-development of care interventions tailored to individual, family and community needs and resources.
- optimization and tracking of social and health service referral pathways.
- implementing community and family-based preventive and early intervention strategies with an SDHE focus.