Promoting equity through monitoring inequalities in the semi-rural region of Girona

Abstract

Abstract Problem Girona's region is a semi-rural territory with 750,000 h located in the northeast of Spain. There is no system to monitor health, well-being and health inequalities. This causes a lack of local public health equity policies. Description Design, implementation and results of participatory process, carried out over 6 months, to identify the information and data needs to be monitored locally for social determinants and health inequalities. Process has 4 phases: Selection of technical and political profiles representing coastal and inland, rural and urban municipalities linked to the fields of social determinants of health.Diagnosis: 2.1. Systematic collection of information through: i) Self-administered online questionnaire, sent to 250 policy makers and 580 technicians. ii) 6 focus groups 2.2. Data analysis to prioritize data and information needs.Evaluation and conclusions.Dissemination of results and transfer of knowledge. Results Involve actors in the identification of health information needs and their determinants permit to build a shared model of indicators. Spread the model of social determinants and their effects on health and well-being, increasing awareness of inequalities and health strategy in all policies. Identify the need to adjust some state and international indicators locally to be useful in local proximity policies. Lessons Involving local stakeholders has enabled the Girona's Observatory of Social Determinants of Health and Well-being to respond more efficiently to the information needs of technical and political decision makers. Indicators for monitoring health and inequality at the state and international levels need to be lowered at the local level so that they can be heard in the decision-making process of actors at the local level. Key messages It is necessary to adjust international health indicators to territorial realities in order to adjust local health and wellness policies. Local policies need health and wellness monitoring indicators to guide their policies.