Reducing health inequalities as a component of the health training programs

Abstract

The aim: identifying the characteristics and trends of inequalities in the health of the population to substantiate the educational content of the curriculum for the training of Master in Public Health. Materials and methods: Bibliographic, sociological, medical-statistical and information-analytical methods were used in the study. Ukraine’s healthcare institutions were the scientific base of the study. The data on the average life expectancy, morbidity, mortality, satisfaction of medical needs of different groups of the population for revealing the social gradient are analyzed. Documents on strategies to reduce health inequalities have been examined. Results: Health inequalities between WHO countries have been identified, including a difference in the average life expectancy at birth of 17.1 years in premature mortality due to differences in the levels of economic development of countries. The inequality in the prevalence of diseases and the difference in the satisfaction of specific medical needs among the first and tenth decile population of Ukraine were determined. The prevalence of diseases of the genitourinary system in the population older than 60 years with low rates by 27.3% was higher than the figure among financially insured persons. The incidence of ocular pathology among adults with different income levels varied 1.8 times. The provisions of the WHO strategic documents on reducing health inequalities and its protection and on developing the public health system are analyzed. We justify the necessity of expanding the coverage of the problems of reducing disparities in health and health care in the course of training of the Master in Public Health. A modern curriculum “Social Medicine, Public Health” has been developed with the inclusion of inequalities in public health and appropriate educational and methodological support. Conclusion: The strategic goal of reducing inequalities in public health and its care requires integrating these issues into a modern master’s in public health program. The curriculum developed covers various aspects of health inequalities and health care, including the identification and assessment of disparities, the clarification of causes, the identification of counter-measures. Created educational and methodological support allows acquiring theoretical knowledge and practical skills that form the necessary competencies of professionals in the context of overcoming inequalities in health.