Summary
There is no doubt according to Wallerstein, Yen, and Syme (822) that health inequalities have prompted researchers and practitioners to engage in activities aimed at reducing the same. Public health is the main branch hit by health inequalities. Precisely, social epidemiology and community-engaged interventions are the main areas of public health arousing the interest of researchers and practitioners. Consequently, Wallerstein, Yen, and Syme (822) confirm that the increase in socio-economic inequality coupled with racial and ethnic inequalities widen public health inequalities in the global arena. This article attempts to discuss the collaborations between social epidemiologists and community-engaged intervention practitioners and researchers to bring about change in the public healthcare especially in the reduction of the widely experienced health inequalities.
In order to obtain adequate and convincing data and information, the researchers engaged four basic constructs, which Wallerstein, Yen, and Syme (835) proposed and believed as emerging shared language. In addition, the researchers discovered that even though it is lengthy and demanding to create coordinated effort especially with reference to cross education, its challenges, and reflections, there are many benefits that accrue to the same. Consequently, this has necessitated development of various methods in reducing public health inequalities in the global arena. Researchers of this article propose that there should be proper methods and theories in attempting to clarify the situation of epidemiology within public health. In any case, Wallerstein, Yen, and Syme (828) identified the fact that there is need for critical strategy in developing and targeting social determinants so as to have a favorable condition and environment for reducing health inequalities in social epidemiology. This comes even with challenges from material deprivation, racism, as well as the existing perceptions of the idea of powerlessness amongst various nations in fighting the same.
In conclusion, Wallerstein, Yen, and Syme confirm that it is vital for researchers and practitioners to work together in a bid to reducing inequalities within social epidemiology. Therefore, social epidemiologists should struggle to enter into partnership with a view of coming up with long lasting solutions for public health inequalities.
Works Cited
Wallerstein, Nina., Yen, Irene., and Syme, Leonard. “Integration of Social Epidemiology and Community-Engaged Interventions to Improve Health Equity.” American Journal of Public Health 101.5 (2011): 822-830.