A new WHO resource on health inequality monitoring charts a path for using data to characterize unfair differences in health and drive actions to tackle them. Released to the public on December 11, Health inequality monitoring: harnessing data to advance health equity is a contemporary, all-in-one guide to strengthen the impact of health inequality monitoring practices.
Health inequality monitoring requires health data, broken down by wealth, education, sex or other characteristics. By looking beyond overall averages, it helps to identify population groups where health needs are highest, and track how health gaps between groups are changing over time. When effectively communicated to the right audience, this information can help inform strategies that are geared to achieve impactful results. It can be used to pinpoint which groups are benefiting – or not benefiting – from existing policies, programmes and practices.
This new resource provides comprehensive guidance for inequality monitoring, including sourcing data, carrying out statistical analysis and interpreting findings alongside multiple forms of evidence. It brings together foundational concepts, emerging methods and best practices to showcase how inequality monitoring techniques can be applied across diverse populations and contexts. The resource emphasizes inequality monitoring as a collaborative and integrated undertaking that should be a core part of national health information systems.
“We wanted to illustrate the importance of health inequality monitoring across different populations and situations,” said Ahmad Reza Hosseinpoor, Lead of Health Equity Monitoring at WHO, “and also give readers the background and technical knowledge to carry out this type of monitoring.” Hosseinpoor and his team at WHO led the development of the book, with inputs from an Expert Review Group of global health equity experts and numerous other contributors and reviewers.
Expanded and strengthened health inequality monitoring is urgently needed to target actions and enhance accountability for global health goals. As 2030 draws nearer, progress on the health-related Sustainable Development Goals has been mixed. The world remains off-track to achieve the universal health coverage, health emergency preparedness and healthier populations Triple Billion targets by 2025.
“If we are serious about advancing on priorities such as universal health coverage, we need to act on entrenched health inequalities, ” said Samira Asma, WHO Assistant Director-General, for Data, Analytics and Delivery.
The resource was developed for technical experts, public health professionals, researchers, analysts and students, but offers clear explanations of concepts and practical guidance for anyone interested in the subject matter. Written in four parts, the book spotlights general approaches to health inequality monitoring, ways to align monitoring activities to generate impact, techniques for sourcing data and methods for data analysis, interpretation and reporting.
"Health inequality monitoring: harnessing data to advance health equity"is part of a collection of WHO tools and resources that support capacity building for health inequality monitoring.
Endorsements
“As a minister of health, I find this book on health inequality monitoring invaluable for achieving universal health coverage and sustainable development goals. This book is recommended for anyone committed to advancing health equity because it provides a comprehensive framework for identifying, measuring and addressing health disparities.”
Dr Ximena Aguilera, Minister of Health, Republic of Chile
“Many of us have lamented the relative scarcity of evidence on health equity from countries and the lack of expertise to address the problem. This book shows what needs to be done – it brings together the expertise – and should make a major contribution in stimulating gathering of the kind of evidence that is vital. How on earth did we get this far without it? This will be the definitive text on the subject.”
Michael Marmot, Director of the Institute of Health Equity, University College London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
About
"Health inequality monitoring: harnessing data to advance health equity" is accessible for free online as an eBook or PDF. The book, along with additional materials and endorsements, are available at: https://www.who.int/data/inequality-monitor/tools-resources/book_2024
A webinar to launch the book and explore the theme “harnessing data to advance health equity” will be held on December 11, 2024 from 13:00 – 14:15 CET.
For more information about Health Inequality Monitoring at WHO see: https://www.who.int/data/inequality-monitor