Health Inequities and Societal Participation v2
The Research Line Health Inequalities and Societal Participation (HISP) aims to reflect on and to unravel the entanglements of inequities, participation and globalisation in diverse public health practices in public health research and public health governance. Doing so, we aim to contribute to the reduction of global inequities and to stimulate participation in public health to strengthen local and global social ecologies of health.
Research and Impact
Health Inequities and Societal Participation are topics as well as research approaches which reflect the focus of our research line on vulnerable populations. We focus on health inequity and societal participation and strive for transdisciplinary research from different critical and reflective perspectives, thereby crossing borders between disciplines, methodologies and approaches. Our research has a high societal impact by unraveling the complex dynamics of health in real-life contexts and we offer sustainable innovative solutions. Our research approaches are always embedded in the local research contexts but we perform on a global level. Our research line is powered by the departments Social Medicine, Medical Microbiology, International Health and Health Ethics and Society.
News and research stories
Beyond the platform debate: Wartime Russia’s volunteer networks and the EU’s digital democracy dilemma
Case studies
Showcasing the impact and societal relevance of the research within the Health Inequities and Societal Participation research line.
Bridging Science, Policy and Society CAPHRI’s Global Impact through WHO Collaborating Centres
The World Health Organisation has officially designated two research hubs within the CAPHRI as WHO Collaborating Centres. This recognition underscores their crucial role in supporting the WHO European Region.
Something Old, Something New: Measuring the Real Labour Cost of Healthcare Innovation
CAPHRI researchers are redefining how we assess the true workforce impact of new healthcare technologies, moving beyond simple time measurements to ensure innovations genuinely support a sustainable workforce.
Integration of Work-Related Care in clinical practice
Despite medical advances, a persistent gap remains between work participation rates for people with chronic conditions and the general population. This enduring disparity signals an urgent need for targeted support to enable healthy, sustained employment.
"The future of research is transdisciplinary"
No, you certainly can’t call the COVID-19 pandemic a gift. “But”, says Christian Hoebe, “the pandemic did confirm to us that we at CAPHRI are on the right track with our transdisciplinary research on viruses and borders.
The challenge of growing social health inequalities in the era of participation
People with less education and in lower socioeconomic positions have a worse health status than their better-of counterparts.
Involving employees in creating a healthy workplace
Programmes to improve employee health often fail to have the desired effect, particularly for workers in manual occupations. Agnes Meershoek and Inge Houkes conduct research on participatory approaches to promoting employee health.
Personal health information made accessible, complete, neutral and comprehensible
The 360°CHILDoc dashboard presents a complete picture of a child’s health situation at a glance. The tool can be accessed by healthcare professionals, parents and young people themselves.
CAPHRI gives citizens a voice in research
Public involvement in research, also known as citizen science, is a very common form of research at CAPHRI. “Citizen science comes in many shapes and forms. We use the term to refer to a form of research in which we really work together with citizens."
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South Limburg aims to reduce health gap by 25% in ten year
There is a persistent health gap between South Limburg and the rest of the Netherlands. By 2030, the region aims to have reduced this gap by 25 per cent.
Public spaces are needed to foster social connection
People who live in the neighbourhood Maastricht-Noordwest tend to be less healthy than average. Researchers at Maastricht University are talking with them about their lives and ways for them to feel healthier.
HISP Projects
IMR Blue Zone
The IMR Blue Zone citizen-science project aims to improve healthy lifestyle behaviour and knowledge among citizens and healthcare providers in the Meuse-Rhine region (NL-BE-DE). Life expectancy in the Meuse-Rhine region varies significantly between and within areas. To better understand and reduce these differences, the universities of Hasselt (PI), Liège, Aachen, and Maastricht have launched a large-scale interregional project. From Maastricht University Prof Annemarie Koster (CAPHRI) and Prof Hans Savelberg (NUTRIM) are involved in the project.
Read more about IMR Blue Zone
Positive Health and Social Resilience in Postwar Disadvantaged Neighborhoods: An Ethnographic Participatory Study
In vulnerable neighbourhoods, social dynamics significantly influence the resilience and health of residents. How can residents themselves, in collaboration with the local municipality and professionals, take control of this process?
Read more about Positive Health and Social Resilience in Postwar Disadvantaged Neighborhoods
The MAISE-toolkit: a dialogue based approach to improve the health of workers with a low socio-economic status
Socioeconomic health inequalities in the Netherlands are substantial and persistent. This demands additional efforts to improve the health of lower-educated employees. However, many existing programmes do not align well with their needs and daily realities. To improve the health of this group of employees, it is crucial that they themselves have a voice in developing a healthy workplace.
In this project, the Gezond HR (Healthy HR) toolkit was developed through a dialogue between employees and employers across five organisations. Gezond HR offers an online step-by-step plan for HR managers and supervisors, consisting of 8 steps with subtasks and corresponding tools for both employer and employee. The objective is to achieve a healthier workplace in collaboration with the employees.
Evaluation research indicates that the toolkit is easily adopted and stimulates discussions about healthy working. However, actual implementation proves more challenging the more hierarchical an organisation is, and when management provides less support for the dialogue on healthy working.
Read more about The MAISE-toolkit
Health in Action; a participatory ethnographic research into work place health promotion for employees with low social economic position (SEP)
Companies are paying increasing attention to health and vitality. However, employees with a low socioeconomic position (SEP), who often experience poorer health, participate less frequently than employees with a higher SEP. Existing initiatives often do not align well with the needs, perspectives, and culture of this group. Therefore, this project centres on the perspective of employees with a low SEP, and national advocacy groups have been involved in the learning process regarding health promotion for this group. Together, an approach has been developed that seeks to bring about improvement in this area.
Read more about Health in Action
Understanding transmission of genital and extra-genital Chlamydia trachomatis infections in women and their partners receiving routine care; implications for control strategies
Chlamydia trachomatis (chlamydia) is the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection. FemCure investigates the role of anal chlamydia in a longitudinal multicentre cohort study in which women with chlamydia were followed for three months. Women were recruited from the STI clinics of three Regional Public Health Services (GGD Rotterdam, GGD Amsterdam, and GGD Zuid Limburg). Through this collaboration between science, policy, and practice, we hope to obtain concrete starting points for STI care. For instance, the question arises whether testing for anal chlamydia should be increased. In women without vaginal chlamydia, anal ('single') chlamydia often clears without treatment. However, we also observe that anal chlamydia frequently occurs in women who do have vaginal chlamydia. Doxycycline treatment has a high efficacy, but following azithromycin, (viable) chlamydia is sometimes still detected at the anal site. FemCure is currently examining the role of anal infections in the transmission of chlamydia (such as autoinoculation).
Read more about Understanding transmission of genital and extra-genital Chlamydia trachomatis infections in women and their partners receiving routine care
Sociaal-emotionele zelfmanagement ondersteuning door coaches aan cliënten en hun mantelzorgers
The period following rehabilitation from a brain injury is experienced as challenging by many former clients. This step towards independence, without the support of professionals, often proves more difficult than anticipated.
In early 2019, Maastricht University, in collaboration with the Adelante rehabilitation centre and Stichting Gehandicaptenzorg Limburg (SGL), launched a two-year project aimed at improving support for this target group. The project investigates whether backing from peer-support volunteers can assist clients with a brain injury and their partners in finding a new balance in daily life after returning home from the rehabilitation centre.
The objective of the project is to foster the problem-solving capacity of clients, enabling them to tackle future challenges independently. The volunteers undergo training to become self-management coaches. If proven successful, this approach will be secured for future clients.
Read more about Sociaal-emotionele zelfmanagement ondersteuning door coaches aan cliënten en hun mantelzorgers
