6533b853fe1ef96bd12abf8c

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Equity in local health: participatory tool to assess physical and socioeconomic settings in Spain

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description

Abstract To address local health with a focus on equity and social determinants in a participative way, an intersectoral health analysis must be within reach, with the participation of citizens in every step of the process, as well as the support and commitment of policy-makers. Tools that allow collective evaluation of the people's places and organized data collection are also required. In June of 2019, the translation and transcultural adaptation of the Place Standard Tool, as well as its validation in two municipalities was launched to have available a Spanish tool to evaluate places focusing on equity and social determinants, including equity in all the phases of the assessment process of the territory, promote and facilitate participation of vulnerable populations in every step, analyze results and interventions taking into account axes of inequality, build capacity at different levels, and address the resulting health necessities with an intersectoral focus on social determinants. A Spanish participatory tool with a focus on social determinants was validated. Equity was addressed through focus groups consisting of vulnerable people, analyzing the results by axes of inequality. The participation of citizens was included in the place assessment, and in the prioritization of actions to be developed in the areas with the worst evaluation. An intersectoral group is currently working on the planning of the proposed actions. The first action is a plan to foster the use of bicycles and a mobility analysis to improve urban transportation. The tool allows the participatory place assessment, and facilitates the connection of results and interventions to social determinants of health. It offers organized results which facilitates the intersectoral approach of derived interventions. The support of policy-makers is essential to carry out actions that impact social determinants of health, and to avoid creating false expectations among the citizens.