What are health inequalities?
Health inequalities are systematic differences in health status and life expectancy between individuals and population groups. Health inequalities are linked to differences in social position, access to material and social resources, and conditions of daily life, and are a manifestation of social inequalities.
Where do we find them?
Health inequalities are a feature of nearly all societies, and are observed both within and between countries. Importantly, they are also modifiable, and can be reduced through efforts to promote health equity, including actions and policies aimed at reducing social inequalities that are detrimental to health.
What can we do about them?
The research conducted at CHESS contributes to the promotion of health equity by describing patterns of inequality, investigating the mechanisms through which social factors influence health, and evaluating the extent to which interventions and social policies reduce health inequalities.
Our vision
Since its inception 25 years ago, CHESS has been devoted to understanding and addressing social inequalities in health. Over time, our research profile has expanded in scope and diversity, but the foundations of our work remain: a strong tradition of multidisciplinary collaboration, the utilisation of lifecourse perspectives, and a focus on the role of social institutions in shaping health. At the same time, our research priorities have evolved in response to global and national trends, such as climate change, population ageing, international migration, and technological advances.
As part of the CHESS strategic plan for 2024-2027, two infrastructure initiatives – EQUINODE and EQUITY 2000 – are under development. These efforts will help to ensure that CHESS remains at the forefront of health equity research, collaboration, and communication.
Infrastructure
Our infrastructure initiatives are helping us to better understand the development of health inequalities in Sweden over time, and to make data on health inequalities more accessible.
Projects
The ongoing research projects at CHESS investigate a wide variety of topics, but all are focused on understanding how social forces impact health across the lifecourse.
