Community Perception of Inequities in Health

This dissertation is based on an analysis of Participatory Reflection and Action activity transcripts of six male and six female groups of a rural community. The objective was to explore various perspectives, views and motives held by the community related to inequities and their impact on health outcomes. The analysis found a range of different perspectives on inequities and their impact on health outcomes. Mainly participants perceived inequities in terms of differentials in health outcomes and unequal experiences related to health, which arise from uneven and inequitable distribution of resources and social interaction that has at its base an element of unfairness. The major forms of inequities were socioeconomic, based on place of residence and gender. The unfair and unnecessary inequities have huge impact on access to, affordability and lower utilisation of health care services that resulted in differences in morbidity and mortality between poor and rich, man and woman and urban and rural residents. This is a scoping study because this allows a better understanding about the community conception of inequity and its different aspects.

Sadiq Bhanbhro holds a post-graduate degree in European Master in Public Health, a dual degree course funded by the EC; MPH from the University of Sheffield (UK) & MSc in Public Health (Social & Health Protection) from the Jagiellonian University of Krakow (Poland). He also holds an MSc in Social Anthropology from Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad.