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Abstract Background Although most countries in the European Union are richer and healthier than ever, health inequalities remain an important public health challenge. Health-related problems and premature death have disproportionately been reported in disadvantaged neighbourhoods. Neighbourhood social capital is believed to influence the association between neighbourhood deprivation and health in children and adolescents, making it a potentially interesting concept for policymakers. Methods This study aims to review the role of social capital in health inequalities and the social gradient in health and well-being of children and adolescents. A systematic review of published quantitative literature was conducted, focussing on (1) the mediating role of neighbourhood social capital in the relationship between socio-economic status (SES) and health-related outcomes in children and adolescents and (2) the interaction between neighbourhood social capital and socio-economic characteristics in relation to health-related outcomes in children and adolescents. Three electronic databases were searched. Studies executed between 1 January 1990 and 1 September 2011 in Western countries (USA, New Zealand, Australia and Europe) that included a health-related outcome in children or adolescents and a variable that measured neighbourhood social capital were included. Results Eight studies met the inclusion criteria for the review. The findings are mixed. Only two of five studies confirmed that neighbourhood social capital mediates the association between neighbourhood deprivation and health and well-being in adolescents. Furthermore, two studies found a significant interaction between neighbourhood socio-economic factors and neighbourhood social capital, which indicates that neighbourhood social capital is especially beneficial for children who reside in deprived neighbourhoods. However, two other studies did not find a significant interaction between SES and neighbourhood social capital. Due to the broad range of studied health-related outcomes, the different operationalisations of neighbourhood social capital and the conceptual overlap between measures of SES and social capital in some studies, the factors that explain these differences in findings remain unclear. Conclusions Although the findings of this study should be interpreted with caution, the results suggest that neighbourhood social capital might play a role in the health gradient among children and adolescents. However, only two of the included studies were conducted in Europe. Furthermore, some studies focussed on specific populations and minority groups. To formulate relevant European policy recommendations, further European-focussed research on this issue is needed.

A sample of Czech entrepreneurs (n = 222) was compared to the population sample with respect to subjective health status, stress-buffering factors, and health-related behaviors. Our findings show that 1) entrepreneurs assess their health state more favorably and 2) have a higher level of health-protective factors at their disposal in comparison with the population sample. However, their health behavior is rather poor in comparison with that of the population at large. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Czech cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality rates are among the highest in the world. A 2-year community-based project was designed to increase CVD awareness and knowledge and behavior change skills, thus stimulating change in CVD-related behaviors. Dubec, a Czech town located just outside Prague, was the study community. Risk-factor surveys were conducted before and after the intervention (1992 and 1994). The intervention combined communitywide health education and intensive medical treatment of individuals at high risk for CVD. At baseline, 55% of the eligible population (n = 1,119) participated in the survey; however, the dropout rate in 1994 was high (46%). After taking those factors associated with dropout into consideration, regression analyses revealed significant increases in CVD knowledge, reductions in blood pressure, non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C), and dietary intake of fat in both the high-risk CVD group and the community sample. In addition, the community sample had significant reductions in total cholesterol and a positive shift in their attitudes about changing CVD risk. There were no significant changes in percentage of smokers, body mass index (BMI), or dietary intake of high-fiber foods. This study demonstrates the feasibility of addressing CVD risk-related behaviors in Central Europe and supports additional efforts to address this significant public health problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]