Open AccessAddressing Health Inequities in Environmental Public Health in Alberta
Author(s) -
Michelle Kilborn,
Jason Cabaj,
Lynn Navratil,
Angela Torry,
Richelle Schindler
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
environmental health review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 0319-6771
DOI - 10.5864/d2019-027
Subject(s) - operationalization , health equity , public relations , equity (law) , public health , social determinants of health , health promotion , political science , business , economic growth , medicine , nursing , economics , philosophy , epistemology , law
Environmental health related inequities can occur when environmental hazards or disasters disproportionally impact vulnerable populations, when environmental protection activities place a disproportionate burden on marginalized groups through a lack of inclusion or representation, and through creation of policies or programs that address only the immediate environment rather than the broader structural determinants that have created it ( Gore and Anita, 2013 ). Environmental public health (EPH) practitioners are well positioned to reduce inequities when they are empowered to include an equity lens in their work and identify opportunities to act on the social determinants of health (SDH). This focus group project identified ways in which public health inspectors in Alberta Health Services Calgary zone understand the concepts of equity and SDH as relevant to their work, revealed gaps in understanding and practice, and generated ideas to operationalize the integration of an equity lens into EPH practice. This project helps reinforce the importance of providing health equity education and opportunities for collaboration as a catalyst for action to integrate SDH and health equity into professional competencies and address organizational/operational barriers. Sharing these results will be helpful in moving towards fulfilling the key inequity-reducing role of EPH practice.