Possible connections between health equity and primary health care: a scoping review

Abstract According to the literature, primary health care plays a major role in the dissemination and operation of the principle of health equity. The study investigated how health equity is connected with primary care and public health policies in the national and international literature. Searches...

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Main Authors: Ana Júlia Nociti Lopes Fernandes, Luciana Cisoto Ribeiro, Janise Braga Barros Ferreira
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-02-01
Series:BMC Public Health
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21526-9
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author Ana Júlia Nociti Lopes Fernandes
Luciana Cisoto Ribeiro
Janise Braga Barros Ferreira
author_facet Ana Júlia Nociti Lopes Fernandes
Luciana Cisoto Ribeiro
Janise Braga Barros Ferreira
author_sort Ana Júlia Nociti Lopes Fernandes
collection DOAJ
description Abstract According to the literature, primary health care plays a major role in the dissemination and operation of the principle of health equity. The study investigated how health equity is connected with primary care and public health policies in the national and international literature. Searches were made in the SCOPUS, CINAHL, BVS, PubMed, and Scielo databases, using the method proposed by the Joanna Briggs Institute. The eligibility criteria were developed based on the strategy Population (population in general), Concept (health equity), and Context (PHC). Overall, 34 materials were included in the study. Equity was mainly associated with Whitehead’s theoretical conceptions, focusing on access, marginalized groups, and abstract principles and values. Connections were found in the spheres of the micro-space of health work, management, and policies. Few materials measured equity, within the aspects of access, care, funding, and outcomes. The concept was mostly used in its negative connotation and in relation to the equality/inequality binomial. The relationship between equity and primary care was developed in the fields of micro-processes, macro-processes, and health results. It was concluded that there is a need for the development of specific instruments to measure the concept and for greater clarity in publications on the topic.
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spelling doaj-art-392f0bacb8e543ed8f2b66226c4d8b3c2025-02-09T12:57:58ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-02-0125111010.1186/s12889-025-21526-9Possible connections between health equity and primary health care: a scoping reviewAna Júlia Nociti Lopes Fernandes0Luciana Cisoto Ribeiro1Janise Braga Barros Ferreira2Postgraduate Program in Public Health, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São PauloDepartment of Social Medicine, University of São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto Medical SchoolDepartment of Social Medicine, University of São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto Medical SchoolAbstract According to the literature, primary health care plays a major role in the dissemination and operation of the principle of health equity. The study investigated how health equity is connected with primary care and public health policies in the national and international literature. Searches were made in the SCOPUS, CINAHL, BVS, PubMed, and Scielo databases, using the method proposed by the Joanna Briggs Institute. The eligibility criteria were developed based on the strategy Population (population in general), Concept (health equity), and Context (PHC). Overall, 34 materials were included in the study. Equity was mainly associated with Whitehead’s theoretical conceptions, focusing on access, marginalized groups, and abstract principles and values. Connections were found in the spheres of the micro-space of health work, management, and policies. Few materials measured equity, within the aspects of access, care, funding, and outcomes. The concept was mostly used in its negative connotation and in relation to the equality/inequality binomial. The relationship between equity and primary care was developed in the fields of micro-processes, macro-processes, and health results. It was concluded that there is a need for the development of specific instruments to measure the concept and for greater clarity in publications on the topic.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21526-9Health EquityPrimary Health CarePublic HealthHealth PolicyReview
spellingShingle Ana Júlia Nociti Lopes Fernandes
Luciana Cisoto Ribeiro
Janise Braga Barros Ferreira
Possible connections between health equity and primary health care: a scoping review
BMC Public Health
Health Equity
Primary Health Care
Public Health
Health Policy
Review
title Possible connections between health equity and primary health care: a scoping review
title_full Possible connections between health equity and primary health care: a scoping review
title_fullStr Possible connections between health equity and primary health care: a scoping review
title_full_unstemmed Possible connections between health equity and primary health care: a scoping review
title_short Possible connections between health equity and primary health care: a scoping review
title_sort possible connections between health equity and primary health care a scoping review
topic Health Equity
Primary Health Care
Public Health
Health Policy
Review
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21526-9
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