Health inequities, defined as avoidable and unfair differences in health, have been worsening within and between countries. This has been brought to the forefront by the COVID-19 pandemic.
A newly published Cochrane Library Editorial puts forth that it is time to increase the global relevance of Cochrane Reviews by applying an 'equity lens'. An equity lens is defined as a focus on health equity to ensure that the most hard-to-reach groups within a population benefit, while avoiding intervention-generated inequalities.
To support review authors in applying an equity lens, Cochrane has created a number of useful resources, including:
- Campbell and Cochrane Equity Methods Group's resources
- Cochrane Handbook chapter about health equity
- Cochrane interactive learning health equality module
The editorial also provides additional suggestions to authors to create a Cochrane Review that help equip decision makers to determine the applicability of evidence to their setting, resulting in facilitating the implementation of programs and policies that may contribute to reductions in global health inequities.
