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Find out about our research activities, resources and materials to broaden your knowledge and grow in the field of health inequalities and health equity.

To understand the causes of health inequalities, it is necessary to identify the influencing factors at different levels (for example, at the level of patients, service providers, characteristics of the healthcare system and at the societal level). This identification enables the development of targeted and feasible measures that serve to reduce inequities and thus lead to an increase in the quality of care.

Topics of particular interest include the influence of economic factors on the use of healthcare, unconscious prejudices among healthcare professionals, the influence of continuing education (such as transcultural competence) on healthcare, the effect of case management on the healthcare of vulnerable population groups, and specific topics such as childhood obesity or female genital mutilation.

In order to tackle the issues of diversity and inequality in a sustainable way, we need relevant data at local and national level. Studies on disadvantaged population groups face specific methodological challenges, such as limited representation due to sample selection, a high drop-out rate and existing language barriers. Nevertheless, Swiss Health Network for Equity places great importance on the inclusion and relevance of clinical and other health research to under-researched groups (such as migrants and other vulnerable populations).