Social inequalities in health (part of the AGORA-programme).

This project aims to describe social inequalities in illness and health,
starting from four topics : health status, lifestyle, medical consumption
and financial problems with the access to health services. It includes an
analysis of the first Belgian Health Survey (1997) as well as an overview of
recent relevant theoretical insights. Empirical findings will be places in a
broader socio-economic context.

The social and health indicators used in the first Belgian Health Survey
will be refined. The study also aims at creating a scientific basis for
policy interventions to diminish avoidable social inequalities in health.

The research programme will combine qualitative and quantitative methods.
The link between the empirical data and theories in the international
literature will be described. The data may induce modifications to the
existing theories and explanatory models.