Political Economy Analysis of Health: Scoping review of concepts, definitions, frameworks, outcomes, and applications

Poster
2024 Prague [Global Evidence Summit]
Karuveettil V1, Janakiram C1, John D2, Mathur M3, Varma B4, Green H5
1Amrita Center For Evidence Based Oral Health: A Jbi Affiliated Group, Ernakulam, Kerala, India; Department of Public Health Dentistry, Amrita School of Dentistry, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Ernakulam, Kerala, India
2Evidence Synthesis and Implementation for Indigenous Health: A JBI Affiliated Centre, Center for Public Health Research, Kolkata, India, Kolkata, West Bengal, India; Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
3Centre for Dental Public Health and Primary Care, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom; Public Health Foundation of India, New Delhi, India
4Amrita Center For Evidence Based Oral Health: A Jbi Affiliated Group, Ernakulam, Kerala, India; Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Amrita School of Dentistry, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Ernakulam, Kerala, India
5Australian Centre for Health Engagement, Evidence and Values, University of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia

Background:

The political economy of health approach seeks to understand how political and economic domains interact and shape individual and population health outcomes. The political-economic analysis can provide insights into understanding health problems and inequalities. However, there needs to be more clarity on how the political economy framework is defined and the methods adopted for performing political economy analysis concerning health.

Objectives:

identify and map the literature on concepts, definitions, frameworks, outcomes, and applications of political economic analysis of health.

Methods:

The review followed the JBI methodology for scoping reviews. Databases include Medline (Ovid), Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane CENTRAL, CINAHL, Embase, ProQuest, DynaMed, and gray literature via Google Scholar and OAIster. Two reviewers performed study screening, and data extraction was done using a customized data extraction form. The concepts, definitions, frameworks, outcomes, and applications of the political economy of health were summarized and discussed.

Results:

The scoping review involved a comprehensive search, yielding 13,567 records. After title, abstract, and full-text screening, 19 diverse studies exploring health challenges influenced by political dynamics were included. Predominant issues encompassed HRH (Human Resources for Health) crises, health governance transformations, and the political economy's impact on maternal and child health, tobacco control, and social protection. Political economy analysis (PEA) definitions varied, employing diverse theoretical foundations. Various study designs and data collection methods, including qualitative and mixed methods and enriched analyses. Frequently used frameworks included the "Applied political economy framework" and the "Adapted framework of Problem-driven Political Economy Analysis." Key outcomes emphasized global policy impact, power dynamics, and the political nature of health financing reform. Multisectoral engagement and understanding of political economy dimensions emerged as crucial for successful reforms.

Conclusions:

The synthesis underscores the significance of political economy frameworks in unraveling complex health challenges, offering insights into contextual intricacies, diverse actor influences, and the dynamic interplay between political factors and healthcare outcomes.