title: EquiFrame: a framework for analysis of the inclusion of human rights and vulnerable groups in health policies.
abstract: Ensuring that health policies uphold core concepts of human rights and are inclusive of vulnerable groups are imperative aspects of providing equity in health care, and of realizing the United Nations’ call for Health for All. We outline the process of extensive consultation undertaken across countries and stakeholders culminating in the development of EquiFrame, in conjunction with its associated definitions of core concepts of human rights and vulnerability. EquiFrame is a systematic policy analysis framework that assesses the degree to which 21 core concepts of human rights and 12 vulnerable groups are mentioned and endorsed in health policy documents. We illustrate the scope of the framework by reporting the results of its application to two health policy documents from (Northern) Sudan: the rather generalist Health Policy of (Northern) Sudan, and the more specific National Drug Policy of (Northern) Sudan. We outline some limitations of the framework and highlight issues for considerationin its interpretation. EquiFrame offers a systematic approach to analyzing andfacilitating the inclusion of core concepts of human rights and vulnerability in existing or developing health policies and ultimately to promoting greater equity in health care.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Ahfad University for Women, Omdurman, Sudan.
authors.forename: Mutamad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amin
authors.forename: Malcolm
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: MacLachlan
authors.forename: Hasheem
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mannan
authors.forename: Shahla
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: El Tayeb
authors.forename: Amani
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: El Khatim
authors.forename: Leslie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Swartz
authors.forename: Alister
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Munthali
authors.forename: Gert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Van Rooy
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McVeigh
authors.forename: Arne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eide
authors.forename: Marguerite
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schneider
mesh_terms: D006291:Health Policy; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006806:Human Rights / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D011050:Policy Making; D013397:Sudan; D035862:Vulnerable Populations