The Tides of Change: Addressing Inequity and Chronic Disease in Atlantic Canada

A Discussion Paper (2003), an Annotated Bibliography (2003), and a Tool Kit (2005).

A comprehensive resource analyzing the relationship between chronic disease and social inequity in the context of Atlantic Canada’s social and economic conditions.
By Karen Hayward and Ronald Colman

...The Tides of Change: A Discussion Paper (html)
...download the Discussion Paper (868 KB)

...Annotated Bibliography (html)
...download the Annotated Bibliography (437 KB)

...about the Tool Kit: Turning the Tide (html)
...download the Tool Kit (973 KB)

Description

This comprehensive resource provides a detailed analysis of the links between social inequity and chronic disease. The term “chronic disease” is used in the report to include a variety of persistent or long-standing conditions, encompassing both communicable and non-communicable diseases as well as long-term mental illnesses. “Inequities” are defined as material, social, gender, racial, income, and other social and economic inequalities that are beyond the control of individuals and are therefore considered unjust.

The discussion paper aims to increase understanding about the relationship between chronic disease and inequity in the context of the particular social and economic patterns that influence health in Atlantic Canada. It will be of interest to anyone working on either chronic disease prevention or equity issues. The paper summarizes current research regarding the links between chronic disease and inequity by examining issues such as income distribution, social and economic exclusion, and discrimination, as well as the specific circumstances of several vulnerable populations. Provincial and regional data on these issues and on a number of chronic conditions are provided when available. The paper also examines the materialistic, psychosocial, and political/economic pathways by which the social determinants of health may result in increased chronic disease.

The discussion paper ends by examining policy implications and proposing a number of recommendations for action. It provides many examples of specific policy initiatives for use at federal, provincial, municipal, and community health board levels. In addition to locally relevant data and an extensive bibliography, the paper has three useful and interesting supplements: an appendix, which includes descriptions of many innovative Atlantic Canada initiatives that address the social determinants of health; an Annotated Bibliography, published as a separate document, which describes articles that have a broad conceptual and practical relevance for further study on equity and health; and a tool kit, Turning the Tide: Why Acting on Inequity Can Help Reduce Chronic Disease, which condenses the discussion paper into handout and presentation format for use by community organizations.

Credits

The Tides of Change: Addressing Inequity and Chronic Disease in Atlantic Canada was produced by Karen Hayward and Ronald Colman of GPI Atlantic, in collaboration with the Atlantic Centre of Excellence for Women’s Health, Dalhousie University’s Population Health Research Unit, and York University’s School of Health Policy and Management. It was produced for the Atlantic Regional Office of the Population and Public Health Branch, Health Canada, and guided by an Atlantic-wide Equity and Disease Reference Group.

The tool kit, Turning the Tides: Why Acting on Inequity Can Help Reduce Chronic Disease, was produced by Janis Wood Catano, Easy-to-Read Writing, and Janet Rhymes, Logical Minds.

Availability

These publications are available for download in English (868 KB) and French (1763 KB). You will require the Adobe Acrobat Reader.

For more information, call, write, fax, or e-mail:

Public Health Agency of Canada
Suite 1525, 15th Floor, Maritime Centre
1505 Barrington Street
Halifax, NS B3J 3Y6
Tel: (902) 426-2700
Fax: (902) 426-9689
E-mail: atlantic-atlantique@phac-aspc.gc.ca

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