RESUMO
The Trieste Habitat Micro-area Programme (HMP), an innovative social-health service policy, has offered a natural experiment to empirically evaluate the social mechanisms through which social capital may have an impact on health inequalities. To date, literature clarifying this causal chain is scanty. This empirical study tested the following hypotheses: H1) innovative social-health practices can activate social mechanisms intentionally and systematically so as to generate social capital; H2) such social mechanisms increase specific properties of social capital, in particular those influencing more vulnerable individuals' relationships; H3) investing in these properties can enhance capabilities and, consequently, control over the health of more vulnerable individuals. The study was carried out during 2016-2018 and used both qualitative and quantitative methods. The qualitative part investigated the field experience of the HMP through interviews, focus groups and workshops with HMP professionals. The quantitative part assessed the effect HMP might have on these properties and the capacity to face health risks of more vulnerable individuals. Three samples, each of 200 individuals, residing in the target and in control areas were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. One control sample was matched to the 200 treated subjects using a Propensity Score Matching. The results of the study suggest that the HMP intervention stimulated the development of empowerment, collaboration and interdependence among vulnerable people. This produced an increase in their social capital under several aspects, including enhanced trust, network extension and participation, cooperation and reciprocal help with neighbours, as well as improving their judgement on quality, timing and efficacy of the help received from institutions, relatives or friends. These findings show that socially shared relationships can create innovative local models of a universalistic generative welfare system, which would be both inclusive and able to enhance individual capabilities. These models could be disseminated and carried over to other contexts.
RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: to describe the epidemiology of diabetes within the city of Turin (Piedmont Region, Northern Italy) and to present the process initiated by the city network of diabetes care for the improvement of prevention and treatment of the disease. DESIGN: ecological study based on administrative database. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: residents in Turin from 2016 to 2018. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: incidence and prevalence of diabetes, percentage of glycosylated haemoglobin testing, and case-fatality. RESULTS: in the considered three-year period (2016-2018), the cumulative incidence of diabetes was 11.5 x1,000; as of 31.12.2018 the prevalence was 5.9%. 77% had performed at least one measurement of glycated haemoglobin during the previous year, and the case-fatality was 12.6% in the three-year period. The standardized prevalence per statistical zone varied from a minimum of 2% (95%CI 1.2-3.3) to a maximum of 10.2% (95%CI 9.1-11.4). The highest values were recorded in the most deprived city areas. The geographical distribution of incidence, varying between 5.1 x1,000 (95%CI 2.7-10.0) e 19.4 x1,000 (95%CI 15.8-24.0), reproduces the geography of prevalence, as well as the percentage of measurement of glycated haemoglobin, while the variability of the fatality rate is more modest without an obvious geographic pattern. CONCLUSIONS: diabetes occurs most frequently in the most deprived areas of the city, but the response of the health care system is adequate and equitable. Sharing of these results with the city health authorities and the diabetologists has led to identify as a priority interventions for the reduction of unhealthy behaviours, and for the improvements of patient care pathway, starting form the most disadvantaged areas of the city. A process of listening and involvement of all actors potentially interested in the prevention and treatment of diabetes has been started.
