The concept of equity in scientific production in health: a review

Authors

  • Cristina Arthmar Mentz Albrecht Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul
  • Roger dos Santos Rosa Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; Departamento de Medicina Social
  • Ronaldo Bordin Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; Departamento de Medicina Social

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/s0104-12902017162684

Keywords:

Equity, Health Equity, Brazilian Unified Health System, Health Management

Abstract

This study aims to identify how the principle of equity is employed in health studies in Brazil. It features a review of the scientific production of four databases using the Health Sciences Descriptors “equity” and “health” in all of them. Thirty-four articles addressing the topic of health in Brazil were reviewed. Results show that equity is understood in most articles as an essential factor for social justice, considering the context of social inequalities in which the Brazilian Unified Health System operates. There was a prevalence of the concept of equity proposed by the World Health Organization, which emphasizes the moral and ethical dimension of the term. The restriction of the discussion on equity to the level of access suggests a narrow understanding of the term, which can be explained by the difficulty in applying it, since a social principle is an abstract value.

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Published

2017-03-01

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

The concept of equity in scientific production in health: a review. (2017). Saúde E Sociedade, 26(1), 115-128. https://doi.org/10.1590/s0104-12902017162684