Inequalities in Health: Methodological Approaches to Spatial Differentiation

Dana Hübelová, Martina Kuncová, Hana Vojáčková, Jitka Coufalová, Alice Kozumplíková, Francois Stefanus Lategan and Beatrice-Elena Chromková Manea
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Dana Hübelová: Department of Social Studies, Faculty of Regional Development and International Studies, Mendel University in Brno, 613 00 Brno, Czech Republic
Martina Kuncová: Department of Economic Studies, College of Polytechnics Jihlava, 586 01 Jihlava, Czech Republic
Hana Vojáčková: Department of Technical Studies, College of Polytechnics Jihlava, 586 01 Jihlava, Czech Republic
Jitka Coufalová: Department of Development, City Municipality of Břeclav, 690 02 Břeclav, Czech Republic
Alice Kozumplíková: Department of Environmental Studies, Faculty of Regional Development and International Studies, Mendel University in Brno, 613 00 Brno, Czech Republic
Francois Stefanus Lategan: Department of Regional and Business Economics, Faculty of Regional Development and International Studies, Mendel University in Brno, 613 00 Brno, Czech Republic
Beatrice-Elena Chromková Manea: Department of Social Studies, Faculty of Regional Development and International Studies, Mendel University in Brno, 613 00 Brno, Czech Republic

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 23, 1-21

Abstract: The prevalence of inequalities in the general health position of communities can be assessed by using selected determinants. The aims of this article are three-fold: (1) to apply a comprehensive approach to the assessment of inequalities in the general health position of communities, (2) to determine the spatial differentiation of determinants, and (3) to present selected assessment methods and their impact on the results. To present a quantitative assessment of these inequalities in health status in communities, a composite indicator (Health Index) was developed. This Health Index is composed of 8 areas of evaluation and 60 indicators which include, amongst others, determinants of health status and healthcare at district level (LAU 1) in the Czech Republic. The data are evaluated using multicriteria decision-making methods (the WSA and TOPSIS methods). Findings suggest that, when all eight domains are assigned the same weight of one, the spatial differentiation among the districts is similar when using both methods. If different weightings are assigned to the districts, changes occur in both the index values and the rankings of the analyzed districts. For example, the allocation of weightings in both methods results in a rearrangement of the ranking of districts for which the Health Index is around the average.

Keywords: inequalities in health; health determinants and indicators; composite indicator; districts of the Czech Republic (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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