READER RESPONSE:Re: Various stories drawing on Institute of Public Health's health and wellbeing statistics across the island of Ireland, Healthplus, August 19th
Dear Editor,
The Institute of Public Health (IPH) recently published over 60 health and wellbeing indicators for every county in the South and every local government district in the North.
For the first time, local pictures of health across the island are beginning to emerge.
The institute is very pleased about the considerable debate that has appeared in the community and the media.
It published this data to increase understanding about the geographical differences that exist and to increase learning between different areas facing similar issues. We also expected to highlight changes needed to improve the quality of data.
The data has highlighted many surprising findings; in particular the large difference between the life expectancy of males in Co Roscommon and neighbouring Co Leitrim.
Life expectancy is influenced by a wide range of issues and careful exploration of the comprehensive set of indicators on the institute's website (www.inispho.org/edata) provides some insight into why such differences exist.
However, the current circumstances in these areas will not completely explain these differences. Local data provide snapshots of particular areas, at particular times, and involve only current residents. In addition to this data we need also to consider other issues which influence health:
Most people die of chronic diseases and many of their risk factors begin to affect us very early in life. Their effects accumulate over time and we carry them with us, wherever we live.
It's not just our local area that affects our health. Regional, national and even international issues also have very significant roles.
Finally, counties are not homogenous and important variations within an area have an important part to play.
Unless we take into account the histories of an area's current residents - their lifecourse - as well as their wider social, economic and political contexts, our understanding of geographical differences will be useful but limited.
Relevant, accurate and timely data - covering the broad range of factors - that are monitored over time are essential if we are to better address health inequalities.
With it, planners will be able to better tailor health, social and other public services to local needs across the island.
This data has helped start an important debate. In partnership with others, the IPH will continue to develop more comprehensive local health profiles.
Over time we will achieve better understanding of why inequalities exist and how they might be best addressed.
• Kevin Balanda is associate director at the Institute of Public Health in Ireland