Key influences on health inequalities

This document presents some recent research related to health inequalities with a focus on the key influences on health, including access to work, education, housing and community infrastructure, how these influences impact on health and how access to these influences is inequitable. VicHealth has identified tackling health inequalities as an overarching theme of their Strategic Priorities 2006–2009. To do this, VicHealth focuses on three objectives: 1) Reduce health inequalities experienced by those most affected by social and economic inequality; 2) Improve knowledge in order to understand and respond to health inequalities; and 3) Influence social and economic policy that has an effect on health inequalities. VicHealth seeks to improve the health of all Victorians but targets activities towards: disadvantaged areas, lower socioeconomic groups, Indigenous and refugee communities, people with disabilities, and disadvantaged children and young people. This document presents some recent research related to health inequalities with a focus on: 1. The key influences on health, including access to work, education, housing and community infrastructure 2. How these influences impact on health 3. How access to these influences is inequitable. Data has been drawn from evidence reviews and independent studies. This is one of two research summaries on health inequalities. The other summary has a focus on the Burden of disease due to health inequalitie