Could education be the key to fighting child mortality? Research shows that the level of education of parents has a powerful impact on children's health. The Centre for Global Health Inequalities Research (CHAIN) uncovers surprising findings about social inequality and global health.
"Together with academics, practitioners, policy influencers and international organisations, we are working towards a common goal: to find out how we can best use the world's resources to reduce social health inequalities," says Terje Andreas Eikemo, researcher at NTNU and leader of CHAIN.
The CHAIN Centre is based on one of our greatest societal challenges nationally and globally: social inequalities in health. The project is coordinated from Trondheim (NTNU) and Brussels, but the research centre works globally. It was established in 2017 in collaboration with UNICEF and has received NOK 36.8 million from the Research Council of Norway.
Increased pressure on the health service and reduced financial sustainability
CHAIN was established as a response to the growing concern about health inequalities locally and globally. The centre's goal is to utilise the world's resources in a way that reduces inequalities through research and collaboration with the WHO, the UN and the EU. Health inequalities are a major barrier to social and economic development.
"Unequal distribution of necessary social and economic resources leads to far too many people being prevented from living a long life in good health. It is a problem for those concerned and their families, but it is also a problem for society in the form of increased pressure on the health services and reduced financial sustainability. Our research contributes to solutions that will be effective at the societal level, but with consequences for the individual and their family," says Terje Andreas Eikemo.
The centre analyses large amounts of data to map patterns and causes of health inequalities, and is also actively "on the ground" with fieldwork in different parts of the world. This enables them to evaluate instruments that can make a difference.
Education and health – the important connection
One of the results of CHAIN is research on the connection between education and health. One particularly notable discovery is the importance of paternal education on child survival, a factor that was previously often overlooked.
"We have discovered that parents' education globally has a stable effect on children's survival. This knowledge has been instrumental in advancing education as an important factor in global health policy. Furthermore, CHAIN's work to document pollution levels in refugee camps in Greece has also led to important awareness-raising," says Terje Eikemo.
Health in a larger perspective
The project manager for CHAIN sees health as a major social issue. He explains that while individual behaviors such as diet and lifestyle are important, the data show that social patterns play a crucial role. These patterns, education level, income, regional affiliation, reveal that individual choices are strongly influenced by other social factors.
"A concrete example is the difference in access to medical technology in hospitals. People with higher levels of education are more likely to have access to advanced treatments, highlighting how social structures favour certain groups over others. This phenomenon, known as 'vaccine nationalism', became particularly evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, when rich countries secured vaccines for their own populations at the expense of more needy nations, Eikemo explains.
Social justice through reduced health inequalities
The work of CHAIN has a direct social impact in that it contributes to more equitable health conditions.
"This is perhaps first and foremost a question of justice. At the end of the day, this is about the unfair, unnecessary and inevitable inequalities in health that we find in all countries with available data. By reducing health inequalities, we also contribute to building more resilient societies. The centre's research helps shape international health strategies and policies, which in turn leads to better health on a global scale," explains the project manager.
Through media and collaboration with global organizations, CHAIN has contributed to the international discussion on social inequality in health. Their work has resulted in a further understanding of how social determinants affect health globally, and has led to education becoming a core component of the world's largest health survey, led by the Global Burden of Disease consortium in Seattle.
The future and future work
CHAIN continues to explore the causes of health inequalities and how these inequalities can be counteracted. They work actively to influence policy and practice, and their work emphasizes the necessity of an integrated approach to global health that encompasses social sciences and medical research.
"The support from the Research Council of Norway and others has been critical to CHAIN's work and ability to influence both national and international health policy. The funding has given us the opportunity to establish ourselves as a world-leading center in the health field. This shows how the right support can create the basis for groundbreaking research and real societal change," says Terje Andreas Eikemo.