Using the ESeC to describe socio-economic inequalities in health in Europe

Socio-economic inequalities in health are a generalized phenomenon in European countries. Tackling these inequalities is a key concern for public health policies at local, national and international levels (Mackenbach et al. 2008). In order to support these policies, an important task is to identify accurately the population groups where, because of their socio-economic disadvantage, health problems are predominantly concentrated. Educational attainment and current income have been extensively used in studies on health inequalities in European countries (Dalstra et al. 2006). Both of these socio-economic indicators have been found to be instrumental in identifying disadvantaged groups with high levels of disease, disability and premature death. Studies using these indicators found that health inequalities do not simply consist of higher levels of ill health among the most disadvantaged groups, but that the association between ill health and socio-economic disadvantage pervades the entire socio-economic hierarchy (Kunst et al. 2001).