Addressing perinatal health inequities in Dutch municipalities: Protocol for the Healthy Pregnancy 4 All-3 programme

Lisa Barsties*, Leonie Daalderop, Jacky Lagendijk, FS van Steenbergen, Jasper Been, L.C.M. Bertens, Adja Waelput, H van Zoest, Derk Loorbach, Eric Steegers

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

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Abstract

Background: Health inequities are already present at birth and affect individuals’ health and socioeconomic outcomes across the life course. Addressing these inequities requires a cross-sectoral approach, covering the first 1,000 days of life. We believe that - in the Dutch context - municipal governments can be the main responsible actor to drive such an approach, since they are primarily responsible for organising adequate public health. Therefore, we aim to identify and develop transformative change towards the implementation of perinatal health into municipal approaches and policies concerning health inequities. Methods: A transition analysis will be combined with action research in six Dutch municipalities. Interviews and interactive group sessions with professionals and organisations that are relevant for the institutional embedding of perinatal health into approaches and policies regarding health inequities, will be organised in each municipality. As a follow-up, a questionnaire will be administered among all participants one year after completion of the group sessions. Discussion: We expect to gain insights into the role of municipalities in addressing perinatal health inequities, learn more about the interaction between different key stakeholders, and identify barriers and facilitators for a cross-sectoral approach to perinatal health. This knowledge will serve to inform the development of approaches to perinatal health inequities in areas with relatively poor perinatal health outcomes, both in the Netherlands and abroad.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)385-392
Number of pages8
JournalHealth Policy
Volume125
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2021

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The Healthy Pregnancy 4 All-3 programme is funded by the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, The Hague [grant number 326481]; Jasper V. Been is supported by fellowships of the Erasmus University Medical Centre and the Netherlands Lung Foundation (4.2.14.063JO). The funder had no role in the design of the study, writing of the manuscript, and the decision to submit the manuscript for publication.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 The Authors

Research programs

  • EMC MM-03-54-04-A

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