Health promotion in Swiss municipalities: towards proportionate universalism
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State: Public
Version: author
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Serval ID
serval:BIB_849C5A6935B7
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Health promotion in Swiss municipalities: towards proportionate universalism
Journal
European Journal of Public Health
ISSN
1101-1262
1464-360X
1464-360X
Publication state
Published
Issued date
01/09/2020
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Language
english
Abstract
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title>
<jats:sec>
<jats:title>Background</jats:title>
<jats:p>Health promotion goes beyond the health sector. Municipalities, the local public authorities in Switzerland, have a crucial role to promote population health in all their decisions.</jats:p>
<jats:p>Initially developed by Promotion Santé Valais, the label “Healthy municipality” exists in the canton of Vaud since 2015. The label takes stock of existing measures in health promotion and prevention in all sectors and incentivise new interventions. The labelling process respects different criteria and is validated by an external committee. It is voluntarist, free of charge for the municipality but requires time and intersectoral communication. This abstract explores equity in the uptake of the label.</jats:p>
</jats:sec>
<jats:sec>
<jats:title>Results</jats:title>
<jats:p>In Vaud, 17 municipalities have been labelled “healthy”. Two external evaluations by Swiss universities highlighted that small villages are less involved in the label than urban areas. To achieve health equity, we need to identify and approach municipalities with limited human and financial resources, that might be less active in health promotion and/or whose population is socioeconomically disadvantaged. Preliminary results indicate that municipalities below 1000 inhabitants, in rural areas, should be targeted first. We are currently investigating the barriers and facilitators for them to enrol in the label.</jats:p>
</jats:sec>
<jats:sec>
<jats:title>Lessons</jats:title>
<jats:p>As labels rewarding healthy cities are expanding worldwide, it is important to document and reflect on who benefits from them, and who does not. Our practice is now focusing more on villages in rural areas, with less resources than urban settings. We investigate their needs regarding the type of support that we, public health professionals, can provide. Proportionate universalism principles should also apply to advocacy for health promotion, at the municipality level.</jats:p>
</jats:sec>
<jats:sec>
<jats:title>Key messages</jats:title>
<jats:p>To achieve health in all policies, the role of municipalities is essential. More efforts in health promotion should target specifically small and rural municipalities, with limited resources.</jats:p>
</jats:sec>
<jats:sec>
<jats:title>Background</jats:title>
<jats:p>Health promotion goes beyond the health sector. Municipalities, the local public authorities in Switzerland, have a crucial role to promote population health in all their decisions.</jats:p>
<jats:p>Initially developed by Promotion Santé Valais, the label “Healthy municipality” exists in the canton of Vaud since 2015. The label takes stock of existing measures in health promotion and prevention in all sectors and incentivise new interventions. The labelling process respects different criteria and is validated by an external committee. It is voluntarist, free of charge for the municipality but requires time and intersectoral communication. This abstract explores equity in the uptake of the label.</jats:p>
</jats:sec>
<jats:sec>
<jats:title>Results</jats:title>
<jats:p>In Vaud, 17 municipalities have been labelled “healthy”. Two external evaluations by Swiss universities highlighted that small villages are less involved in the label than urban areas. To achieve health equity, we need to identify and approach municipalities with limited human and financial resources, that might be less active in health promotion and/or whose population is socioeconomically disadvantaged. Preliminary results indicate that municipalities below 1000 inhabitants, in rural areas, should be targeted first. We are currently investigating the barriers and facilitators for them to enrol in the label.</jats:p>
</jats:sec>
<jats:sec>
<jats:title>Lessons</jats:title>
<jats:p>As labels rewarding healthy cities are expanding worldwide, it is important to document and reflect on who benefits from them, and who does not. Our practice is now focusing more on villages in rural areas, with less resources than urban settings. We investigate their needs regarding the type of support that we, public health professionals, can provide. Proportionate universalism principles should also apply to advocacy for health promotion, at the municipality level.</jats:p>
</jats:sec>
<jats:sec>
<jats:title>Key messages</jats:title>
<jats:p>To achieve health in all policies, the role of municipalities is essential. More efforts in health promotion should target specifically small and rural municipalities, with limited resources.</jats:p>
</jats:sec>
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Create date
09/01/2023 11:20
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01/08/2023 6:56
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