Reforming the health gradient
In all European societies, for every step down the socio-economic ladder, children and youth experience a higher level of a wide range of physical and mental health problems, that will also affect their future health and opportunities. This isn’t simply related to access and quality of health services, but to the broader conditions in which they live, learn and grow. The EU-funded Gradient project aimed at identifying what could be done to improve this situation. The project worked on assessing what kind of policies could be effective and to recommend approaches to 'level-up' the health gradient amongst children, young people and families. Gradient found that no single policy or strategy reduces health inequalities single-handedly, requiring an overall government approach to improving well-being. Armed with these findings, the project has called on governments and the private sector to develop coherent strategies across policy sectors. It pointed out that investments to identify the causes of ill health among children could generate significant social and economic returns. In its bid to find ways to level up the health gradient, the project team factored in poverty, school dropout rates, working mothers and childhood education. Interestingly, interviews with policymakers revealed how policymaking improved when young people and families participated in the process. The project involved the first investigation into the relationship between community social capital and the health of children and young people. It found that the health gains of increasing social capital are particularly marked for disandvantaged children and young people in communities with low social capital., making this an important entry point to reduce reducing health inequities. Policy makers are therefore advised to regularly measure social capital in the community and assess the effects of existing programmes on social capital to develop new programmes. In this light, Gradient developed an evaluation framework, self-assessment policy tool and common indicators for EU governments to assess health measures. It published a book titled 'The Right Start to a Healthy Life' to help policymakers adopt better health measures that lead to more inclusive, cohesive and sustainable societies. Through comparative studies and a thorough overview of the social gradient in health, the project has laid the groundwork for better societies that start with the health of children.
