The interactive atlas on health inequalities

Abstract

In order to translate specialized scientific information into available, relevant and useful knowledge for decision-makers in public health, the PRIMUS group has developed the on-line Interactive Atlas on Health Inequalities (IAHI), based on user's needs assessments and data availability. Built on multidimensional tables, the IAHI is an health information system which has the power to allow users, especially those concerned by health inequalities, to query rapidly and interactively large volumes of health data (in aggregated format) at different spatial and population levels and to produce meaningful results displayed as tables, graphs or maps almost instantly. Designed explicitly to reveal inequalities in health, the IAHI offers relevant information for understanding social and geographical health inequalities observed for myocardial infarction, osteoporotic fractures, diabetes, chronic pain, schizophrenia, and mood disorders. The IAHI is a powerful support tool for decision-makers, serving the long term goal of closing the gaps across sub-populations, in terms of prevalence of diseases, access to health care, treatments and health outcomes.