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Planning for Health Equity: How Municipal Strategic Documents and Project Plans Reflect Intentions Instructed by the Norwegian Public Health Act

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  • Monica Lillefjell

    (Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
    Department of Public Health, University of Stavanger, 4036 Stavanger, Norway)

  • Siren Hope

    (Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway)

  • Kirsti Sarheim Anthun

    (Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
    Department of Health Research, SINTEF Digital, 7030 Trondheim, Norway)

  • Eirin Hermansen

    (Department of Culture and Public Health, Trøndelag County Authority, 7735 Steinkjer, Norway)

  • John Tore Vik

    (Department of Culture and Public Health, Trøndelag County Authority, 7735 Steinkjer, Norway)

  • Erik R. Sund

    (HUNT Research Centre, Department of Public Health and Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
    Levanger Hospital, Nord-Trøndelag Hospital Trust, 7600 Levanger, Norway
    Faculty of Nursing and Health Sciences, Nord University, 7600 Levanger, Norway)

  • Bodil Elisabeth Valstad Aasan

    (HUNT Research Centre, Department of Public Health and Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
    Levanger Hospital, Nord-Trøndelag Hospital Trust, 7600 Levanger, Norway)

  • Mari Sylte

    (Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway)

  • Ruca Maass

    (Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway)

Abstract

The Norwegian Public Health Act (PHA) mandates municipalities to integrate a systematic, knowledge-based, cross-sectoral approach aimed at levelling the social gradient in health. This study aimed to describe and analyse how the intentions of the PHA are addressed in municipal plans and project-planning documents. A document analysis of municipal plans and project documents extracted from four municipalities in Central Norway was employed and complemented with deductive, qualitative content analysis. Findings indicate awareness of public health work as a whole-of-municipality responsibility. Systematic knowledge-based processes that make use of relevant data in planning and decision-making processes are described across municipality projects and plans. Multisectoral working groups are set up at a project level; however, opportunities for further improvements arise in respect to the anchor of these structures and systematic knowledge-based working procedures in the wider municipal context. Public health process aims (systematic knowledge-based approach, cross-sectoral governance) receive more attention than outcome aims (health equity) in both program documents and municipal plans. Only very rarely does the document hold operationalizations of how to achieve health equity. As such, effort placed on cross-administrative levels and sectors to promote structures for health equity is still needed.

Suggested Citation

  • Monica Lillefjell & Siren Hope & Kirsti Sarheim Anthun & Eirin Hermansen & John Tore Vik & Erik R. Sund & Bodil Elisabeth Valstad Aasan & Mari Sylte & Ruca Maass, 2023. "Planning for Health Equity: How Municipal Strategic Documents and Project Plans Reflect Intentions Instructed by the Norwegian Public Health Act," Societies, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-15, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsoctx:v:13:y:2023:i:3:p:74-:d:1101213
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