Monitoring socioeconomic inequalities in health in Hong Kong: insights and lessons from the UK and Australia

Chung, G. K.-K., Robinson, M., Marmot, M. and Woo, J. (2023) Monitoring socioeconomic inequalities in health in Hong Kong: insights and lessons from the UK and Australia. Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific, 31, 100636. (doi: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2022.100636) (PMID:36879790) (PMCID:PMC9985041)

Abstract

In many developed countries such as the UK and Australia, addressing socioeconomic inequalities in health is a priority in their policy agenda, with well-established practices and authorities to collect and link selected health and social indicators for long-term monitoring. Nonetheless, the monitoring of socioeconomic inequalities in health in Hong Kong remains in a piecemeal manner. Also, the common international practice to monitor inequalities at area level appears to be unsuitable in Hong Kong due to its small, compact, and highly interconnected built environment that limits the variation of neighbourhood deprivation level. To enhance inequality monitoring in Hong Kong, we aim to draw reference and lesson from the UK and Australia to explore the feasible steps forward regarding collection of health indicators and contextually appropriate equity stratifiers with strong implication on policy actions, and discuss potential strategies to promote the public awareness and motivations for a more comprehensive inequality monitoring system.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: GKC acknowledges the Research Grants Council for its support over his Postdoctoral Fellowship (Ref. No.: PDFS2122-4H02).
• Keywords: Socioeconomic, data collection, Australia, health inequality, United Kingdom, Hong Kong, monitoring.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Robinson, Dr Mark
• Authors: Chung, G. K.-K., Robinson, M., Marmot, M., and Woo, J.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Public Health
• Journal Name: Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific
• Publisher: Lancet Publishing Group
• ISSN: 2666-6065
• ISSN (Online): 2666-6065
• Published Online: 11 November 2022
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2022 The Authors
• First Published: First published Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific in 31: 100636
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License