title: Targeting in a population health approach.
abstract: There are two well described methods to improving health: an individual risk assessment approach and a whole population approach.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study explores the limitations of the individual approach to public health, and the success and limitations of the population approach.
  
  
  METHODS
  A theoretical approach with examples from general and oral health will be used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  However although the population approach can reduce the mean prevalence of a condition within the population it can also increase health disparities. Some groups gain disproportionally more from a population intervention and vulnerable population groups disproportionally less leading to an unjust situation. These disparities are the result of social circumstances.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Additional strategies targeted to vulnerable groups are therefore necessary to complement the population approach to reduce such disparities. Examples of strategies which could be used in targeting vulnerable groups will be outlined.
authors.affiliation: Australian Research Centre for Population Oral Health (ARCPOH), School of Dentistry, The University of Adelaide, SA, Australia. kaye.robertsthomson@adelaide.edu.au
authors.forename: Kaye
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Roberts-Thomson
mesh_terms: D003729:Dental Care; D015438:Health Behavior; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D009909:Oral Health; D011634:Public Health; D009057:Stomatognathic Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control