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BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2021

Open Access 01-12-2021 | Research article

Linking political exposures to child and maternal health outcomes: a realist review

Authors: Maxwell S. Barnish, Si Ying Tan, Araz Taeihagh, Michelle Tørnes, Rebecca V. H. Nelson-Horne, G. J. Melendez-Torres

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2021

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Abstract

Background

Conceptual and theoretical links between politics and public health are longstanding. Internationally comparative systematic review evidence has shown links between four key political exposures – the welfare state, political tradition, democracy and globalisation – on population health outcomes. However, the pathways through which these influences may operate have not been systematically appraised. Therefore, focusing on child and maternal health outcomes, we present a realist re-analysis of the dataset from a recent systematic review.

Methods

The database from a recent systematic review on the political determinants of health was used as the data source for this realist review. Included studies from the systematic review were re-evaluated and those relating to child and/or maternal health outcomes were included in the realist synthesis. Initial programme theories were generated through realist engagement with the prior systematic review. These programme theories were adjudicated and refined through detailed engagement with the evidence base using a realist re-synthesis involving two independent reviewers. The revised theories that best corresponded to the evidence base formed the final programme theories.

Results

Out of the 176 included studies from the systematic review, a total of 67 included child and/or maternal health outcomes and were included in the realist re-analysis. Sixty-three of these studies were ecological and data were collected between 1950 and 2014. Six initial programme theories were generated. Following theory adjudication, three theories in revised form were supported and formed the final programme theories. These related to a more generous welfare state leading to better child and maternal health especially in developed countries through progressive social welfare policies, left-of-centre political tradition leading to lower child mortality and low birth weight especially in developed countries through greater focus on welfare measures, and increased globalisation leading to greater child and infant mortality and youth smoking rates in LMECs through greater influence of multinational corporations and neoliberal trade organisations.

Conclusion

We present a realist re-analysis of a large systematically identified body of evidence on how four key political exposures – the welfare state, democracy, political tradition and globalisation – relate to child and maternal health outcomes. Three final programme theories were supported.
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Metadata
Title
Linking political exposures to child and maternal health outcomes: a realist review
Authors
Maxwell S. Barnish
Si Ying Tan
Araz Taeihagh
Michelle Tørnes
Rebecca V. H. Nelson-Horne
G. J. Melendez-Torres
Publication date
01-12-2021
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2021
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-10176-2

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