bevolkingsbrede

Bevolkingsbrede is a Dutch term used in public health, epidemiology and policy to describe interventions, policies, or analyses that apply to the entire population, rather than to specific subgroups or individuals. It denotes breadth of reach and aims to influence health outcomes at the population level.

In practice, bevloingsbrede interventions cover all residents regardless of age, sex, socioeconomic status, or individual risk factors. Examples include universal vaccination programs, mass screening campaigns, public health mandates such as bans on smoking in public spaces, and population-wide policies like water fluoridation. The term can also describe research approaches that use aggregated population data to assess overall health effects, rather than focusing solely on individual-level outcomes.

Bevolkingsbrede measures are typically intended to maximize overall population health and equity by making preventive actions available to everyone. They must balance effectiveness with cost, feasibility, and potential impacts on different subgroups. Because results observed at the population level may not apply equally to every person, researchers and policymakers guard against ecological fallacy and interpret aggregated data carefully.

The term is common in Dutch health policy documents, guidelines, and academic literature. It is often contrasted with targeted or risk-based approaches that focus on specific groups or individuals. See also population health, public health policy, and mass interventions.