Health outcomes and health inequalities

Schneider, Simone M.; Roots, Ave; Rathmann, Katharina

doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780198860525.003.0002

Health outcomes and health inequalities

Citation

Schneider SM, Roots A, Rathmann K. Health outcomes and health inequalities. In: Immergut EM, Anderson KM, Devitt C, Popic T, editors. Health politics in Europe: a handbook. Oxford: Oxford University; 2021. p. 32-48. DOI: 10.1093/oso/9780198860525.003.0002

Abstract

This chapter explains concepts and empirical variation regarding health outcomes, access to healthcare, and health inequalities. Access to healthcare is highlighted as a potential mediator or transition point linking characteristics of the broader policy context to health outcomes and their distribution across population groups. The chapter also discusses potential indicators and measurement issues considered relevant for cross-national comparative research and introduces the data sources and methodology for the figures that follow in the regional outlook and country chapters. It provides a short empirical overview of cross-national variation in health outcomes, health inequalities, and access to healthcare in Europe.