Assessment of Population-Level Disadvantage Indices to Inform Equitable Health Policy.

ABSTRACT: Policy Points The rapid uptake of disadvantage indices during the pandemic highlights investment in implementing tools that address health equity to inform policy. Existing indices differ in their design, including data elements, social determinants of health domains, and geographic unit of analysis. These differences can lead to stark discrepancies in place-based social risk scores depending on the index utilized. Disadvantage indices are useful tools for identifying geographic patterns of social risk; however, indiscriminate use of indices can have varied policy implications and unintentionally worsen equity. Implementers should consider which indices are suitable for specific communities, objectives, potential interventions, and outcomes of interest.

Context

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SUBMITTER: Kaalund K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9836250 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature