Scottish Health Survey 2008-2011: Equity groups topic report

Whybrow, Paul; Ramsey, Julie; MacNee, Karen

Abstract

Data on equality and its relationship to health is important because it helps us understand the characteristics of individuals which may have an impact on
health and the need for health care services. To date, although we have some evidence to suggest how a person’s characteristics can be associated with their health and care, this is limited in Scotland due to small size of some
equality groups which makes it difficult to get representative information from surveys.

The analysis in this report represents an important step forward in the availability of survey data on health behaviours and health characteristics for equality groups in Scotland. Scottish Health Survey data has been combined
from four consecutive years (2008-2011) in order to allow more in-depth analysis of smaller populations which would not be possible for individual survey years.

The UK Government’s Equality Act 2010 includes a new public sector Equality Duty which requires public authorities to be active in promoting equality, eliminating unlawful conduct and fostering good relations. The new Duty
came into force on 6 April 2011 and provides a single, consistent framework covering age, disability status, ethnicity, gender/sex, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, religion/belief, sexual orientation, and transgender identity1. A public sector duty to provide evidence of compliance with this legislation and to set and report on equality outcomes came into force in Scotland in May 20122. All public sector bodies will require good quality information about equality groups to set and measure progress on equality outcomes. The analysis in this report should provide a useful
contribution to the evidence base for setting national equality outcomes, which can then be drawn upon to inform local priorities where appropriate.

Citation

Whybrow, P., Ramsey, J., & MacNee, K. Scottish Health Survey 2008-2011: Equity groups topic report

• Report Type: Technical Report
• Deposit Date: May 14, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: May 14, 2018
• Peer Reviewed: Not Peer Reviewed
• ISBN: 9781782561781
• Keywords: Scottish Health Survey, equity groups, topic report
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/927484
• Additional Information: Additional Information : Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.