Karolinska Institutet (KI), Department of Public Health Sciences, Division of Social Medicine

Abstract

A review of international scientific literature regarding public health work directed to persons at risk of social exclusion was done in 1997. The aim of the literature review was to gather knowledge about local interventions and about strategies which have been employed and which types of measures may be effective. Material and methodLiterature on intervention was gathered by means of four database searches: three searches in DIALOG and a fourth search into PSYCH.LIT and SOCIO.FILE. Further information was collected manually - a review of specific key-journals on the subjects (1994-1997).The basic idea behind the searches was that they should include: target group - level - subject category, i.e. disadvantaged - community-based - health promotion. The terms disadvantaged, deprived, hard to reach, underserved groups and socially excluded have been applied as synonyms to exposed and excluded groups. Additionally, certain target groups were included in the searces: children, youth, adolescents, single mothers and the mentally ill. The presentation of results focuses on groups at risk of social exclusion.

The database searches yielded only a few articles on the subject (i.e. interventions): the terms used for vulnerable and excluded groups are difficult to define and only a minimal amount of articles on intervention projects are published internationally. Much of the published literature are derived from projects in the U.S.A. Various methods have been applied when carrying out the interventions: health education, skills training, activities in the local community, supporting parents, and messages via the media. Empowerment approach, ecological perspective and methods for local community development are discussed. Several articles express the need for, not only intervention with an individual approach, but also directed towards the environment. To summarize, the literature review indicated that positive effects from the intervention aimed at vulnerable groups are feasible, involvement of different levels is desirable, that empowerment can be a good way of working. However there is much development left to be done in terms of methods and course of action in order to achieve concrete local mobilisation.

Keywords

Community intervention, Social exclusion

Contact:

Martilla Anneli

Institution

Karolinska Institutet (KI), Department of Public Health Sciences, Division of Social Medicine

Postaddress

Norrbacka

Postcode

SE-171 76 Stockholm

Country

Sweden

E-mail

anneli.marttila@socmed.sll.se