Health and Inequality: Applying Public Health Research to Policy and Practice:

Abstract

One may argue there might be a hint of bias when the reviewer shares the same home city as the majority of this book’s contributors, but I quite like this text. The conceptual framework of the book follows the now well-recognized six-stage life course trajectory described by Sir Michael Marmot from pre-birth to well-being in later life. The contributors are experts in their respective areas and demonstrate that they understand how to summar ize the major public health challenges in modern UK society and deliver it to the wider audience. The book begins with an overview of public health and the key principles underlying modern practice. In tackling health and financial inequalities, the authors (in my view correctly) advocate using a social justice approach in which all people are assumed to have basic entitlements as opposed to downstream models, which focus on individual risks for ill health. High-quality scientific evidence is blended with practical examples of public health action to illustrate why this concept is appropriate. The book covers a range of research findings related to mother and baby units in prisons; the promotion of sexual health education in schools; breastfeeding in teenage mothers; employment such as welfare rights and women’s well-being and finally a personal favourite of mine, the keeping warm in later life project (KWILLT). Although the target audience isn’t explicitly stated, the book is readable for those starting out in public health but also an excellent review book for those more experienced in the field. Many of the public health concepts will be familiar to those working in occupational health. There is little use of jargon and the chapters are harmonized appropriately following logically from one to the next. If there is one criticism of the content, it is the predominantly UK focus. There are references to how some UK public health issues have international relevance, but these are sparsely discussed. This book will not teach you all there is to know about public health, but would neatly complement any major text. In summary, the book has a place on any occupational health practitioner’s shelf but isn’t detailed enough for those more serious about addressing public health issues in a wider societal context beyond their organization.