Cities & healthPub Date : 2023-10-20DOI: 10.1080/23748834.2023.2262306
Jason Corburn, Marcus Grant, Smruti Jukur, Francisco Obando
{"title":"The practices of urban health equity: a call for greater humility","authors":"Jason Corburn, Marcus Grant, Smruti Jukur, Francisco Obando","doi":"10.1080/23748834.2023.2262306","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/23748834.2023.2262306","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":72596,"journal":{"name":"Cities & health","volume":"44 25 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135617385","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Towards climate change resilience and informal workers’ health in Zimbabwe: an action-research case study","authors":"Artwell Kadungure, Rangarirai Machemedze, Wisborn Malaya, Nathan Banda, Rene Loewenson, Alice Sverdlik","doi":"10.1080/23748834.2023.2261755","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/23748834.2023.2261755","url":null,"abstract":"Despite rising concern for climate change in cities, urban informal workers are rarely considered in climate and health interventions. Globally, about two billion people work in the ‘informal economy,’ which encompasses all livelihoods lacking legal recognition or social protections. To encourage more holistic studies of workers’ health in urban areas, we discuss recent action-research in Zimbabwe’s cities of Harare (population 2.4m) and Masvingo (urban population 207,000). Using surveys (N=418) and focus group discussions (N=207) with informal urban agriculture workers and plastic waste-pickers, we analysed their climate-related, occupational, and environmental health risks. Approximately 55% of waste-pickers and urban agriculture workers reported that heat extremes already shortened their working times and lowered incomes. We highlight the close links between living and working conditions; discuss gendered differences in risks; and examine how heatwaves, water scarcity, and floods are affecting informal workers. In Masvingo, local authorities have begun collaborating with informal workers to tackle these risks. We recommend multi-sectoral, co-produced strategies that can simultaneously promote health and resilient livelihoods. Although climate change could further entrench urban inequalities, there may also be unusual opportunities to spark action on climate change by using a health lens to improve livelihoods and foster more inclusive, resilient urbanisation pathways.","PeriodicalId":72596,"journal":{"name":"Cities & health","volume":"55 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135569597","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Cities & healthPub Date : 2023-10-04DOI: 10.1080/23748834.2023.2260054
Uta Dietrich, Aishwariya Krishna Kumar, Shahridan Faiez
{"title":"Systems thinking guides a community building journey in Malaysian public housing","authors":"Uta Dietrich, Aishwariya Krishna Kumar, Shahridan Faiez","doi":"10.1080/23748834.2023.2260054","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/23748834.2023.2260054","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACTMalaysia’s urban poor have been successfully rehoused in high-rise buildings during the country’s rapid development. However, quality of life and livelihoods in these complexes are deteriorating, widening inequalities. Considering housing as a complex system, this case study designed an iterative place-based community-building initiative with residents, covering multiple dimensions. The COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated residents’ vulnerabilities, from job losses to food security. In turn, the programme restructured to meet residents’ emerging needs, adjusting existing plans. Surprisingly, pandemic-related programme changes also had positive outcomes. We share insights for methodology, implementation, scalability, policy implications, evaluation, and funding from a praxis perspective.KEYWORDS: Public housinghealth inequitiesMalaysia NoteThink City Sdn Bhd is an impact organisation seeking to make cities more liveable, environmentally and socially resilient and sustainable. From neighbourhood to national scale, Think City designs and delivers programmes around housing, safety, climate change, urban data to culture-based urban regeneration and heritage conservation via its co-investment and partnership approach (www.thinkcity.com.my).AcknowledgementsThe authors would like to thank the extensive network of partners who made this programme possible. This includes the community at PPR Kg Baru Hicom for driving the programme with their creativity and commitment; key collaborators such as PERWACOM as critical facilitators, PHSSB, MBI and other authorities for providing the necessary support and guidance; and all other partners for K2K and Rights To The City (R2C).Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).GeolocationThe geographical location mentioned in this paper is Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia.Additional informationFundingThe work was supported by the Citi Foundation via CAF America [ID#G-ISC-20207598]; CIMB Bank; PNSB Construction Sdn Bhd.Notes on contributorsUta DietrichUta Dietrich is passionate about urban health, balancing the health of people, city and planet. Her career in Australia, Asia and now Europe has spanned practice, policy, education and research. Over the past 10 years she has applied a human development lens to urban rejuvenation with specific focus on vulnerable communities, public housing and climate & health as Director Social Resilience at Think City in Kuala Lumpur. Most recently Uta has joined the Centre of Expertise – Perspective in Health at Avans University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands.Aishwariya Krishna KumarAishwariya Krishna Kumar has a varied background, with stints in refugee agencies, investments, and urban regeneration, complemented by an education in Economics and Political Science. She has spent 6 years working on urban resilience in Kuala Lumpur, understanding women’s safety, homelessness, and public housing. She enjoys gaining in-depth knowledge on d","PeriodicalId":72596,"journal":{"name":"Cities & health","volume":"1 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135591587","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Cities & healthPub Date : 2023-10-03DOI: 10.1080/23748834.2023.2260134
Daniel Fuller, Martine Shareck, Stephanie Sersli, Carly Priebe, Ali Alfosool, Justin Lang, Emily Wolfe Phillips
{"title":"Common measures of green and blue space for built environment, health equity and intervention research: a scoping review","authors":"Daniel Fuller, Martine Shareck, Stephanie Sersli, Carly Priebe, Ali Alfosool, Justin Lang, Emily Wolfe Phillips","doi":"10.1080/23748834.2023.2260134","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/23748834.2023.2260134","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACTThe purpose of this study was to describe self-report and audit-based measurement tools of green and blue space used for health equity and intervention research. This scoping review was conducted and reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). In March 2022, we performed a literature search of MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and SPORTDiscus. We found 22 papers, six of which used self-report tools and 16 of which relied on audit-based measures to assess green or blue space. These tools measure aspects of blue and green space including accessibility, equipment, and use. The System for Observing Parks and Recreation in Communities (SOPARC) was most used followed by the Public Open Space Audit Tool (POST) and the Community Park Audit Tool (CPAT). The priority populations most often studied were residents of low socio-economic status/high disadvantage neighbourhoods, followed by racialized groups and women. This scoping review provides guidance on common measurement tools that can be used by researchers working on green/blue space for health equity and intervention research. No reliable and valid self-report measure was used or available in the literature to examine equity in green/blue space.KEYWORDS: green spaceequityinterventionreliabilityvalidityblue space Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Supplementary materialSupplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/23748834.2023.2260134.Additional informationFundingFunding to support this work was provided by the Public Health Agency of Canada.Notes on contributorsDaniel FullerDaniel Fuller, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in Community Health and Epidemiology at the University of Saskatchewan. His research is focused on using wearable technologies to study physical activity, transportation interventions, and equity in urban spaces. Dan has an M.Sc. in Kinesiology from the University of Saskatchewan and a Ph.D. in Public Health from Université de Montréal. He is a Principal Investigator on the INTERACT and CapaCITY/É research teams.Martine ShareckMartine Shareck, Ph.D., is a population health researcher and Assistant Professor in the Department of Community Health Sciences at the Université de Sherbrooke. She holds a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair (2020-2025) on urban environments and health equity among young people. Trained in social epidemiology, health promotion and health geography, she has expertise in research with marginalized populations, on the social determinants of health, in mixed-methods program evaluation and in urban health inequities. She is a Principal Investigator on the CapaCITY/É research team.Stephanie SersliStephanie Sersli, Ph.D., recently completed a postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Community Health Sciences at the Université de Sherbrooke. She is a health geographer whose research in","PeriodicalId":72596,"journal":{"name":"Cities & health","volume":"17 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135695576","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Cities & healthPub Date : 2023-10-02DOI: 10.1080/23748834.2023.2259753
Jin Hui Lee, JungHo Park, Min Sook Park
{"title":"Understanding the community and social determinants in mental health inequity: the impact of mass social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic","authors":"Jin Hui Lee, JungHo Park, Min Sook Park","doi":"10.1080/23748834.2023.2259753","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/23748834.2023.2259753","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACTThis study investigates the relations of individual capacity and community attributes with adults’ (age 18+) psychological impacts (i.e. anxiety, depression, and comorbidity of the two) from social restriction directives during the COVID-19 pandemic. Controlling for community-level environmental factors and individual-level characteristics, multilevel logistic regressions were carried out with nationally representative and COVID-19-specialized data from the Household Pulse Survey (N = 1,205,194) conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau between 23 April 2020 and 7 June 2021. Regression estimates show that the lack of community capacities (e.g. poverty and transit use) during the pandemic and individuals’ economic vulnerabilities (e.g. loss of income and housing instability) exacerbate mental illnesses as social distancing measures are prolonged. Particularly, a more stringent stay-at-home order was found to be related to a marginal increase in the risk of anxiety (OR = 1.014, CI = 1.000–1.029), depression (OR = 1.016, CI = 1.003–1.030), and their comorbidity (OR = 1.018, CI = 1.003–1.034). These findings suggest that the psychological impact of social distancing order can be determined by combining the effects of both individual and community capacities.KEYWORDS: Community attributesmental healthCOVID-19 social restrictionshealth inequityeconomic vulnerability Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Authors contributionsAll authors have contributed substantially to the conception, analysis, interpretation, and/or drafting of this research and approve the final version. Jin Hui Lee (JHL), JungHo Park (JHP), and Min Sook Park (MSP) designed and conducted research together; JHL led the overall framework and writing of the research; JHP led the empirical analyses and supported the writing; MSP led literature review and supported the writing; JHL had primary responsibility for final content. All authors read and approved the final article.Supplementary materialSupplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/23748834.2023.2259753Additional informationFundingThe author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.Notes on contributorsJin Hui LeeJin Hui Lee is a research fellow at the Korea Research Institute for Human Settlements where her research focuses on health cities, poverty cluster, and gentrification developing the evidence for urban-based solutions to improve inequalities. Dr. Lee holds a PhD in Urban and Regional Planning from the Florida State University.JungHo ParkJungHo Park is an assistant professor at the Department of Housing & Interior Design (BK21 Four AgeTech-Service Convergence) in Kyung Hee University. His research is based in the field of housing demography, urban planning, and urban informatics. He holds his Ph.D. in Urban Planning and Development from the University of Southern California.Min Sook ParkMin Sook ","PeriodicalId":72596,"journal":{"name":"Cities & health","volume":"148 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135895088","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Cities & healthPub Date : 2023-10-02DOI: 10.1080/23748834.2023.2260133
Martine Shareck, Daniel Fuller, Stephanie Sersli, Carly Priebe, Ali Alfosool, Justin J. Lang, Emily Wolfe Phillips
{"title":"Measuring walkability and bikeability for health equity and intervention research: a scoping review","authors":"Martine Shareck, Daniel Fuller, Stephanie Sersli, Carly Priebe, Ali Alfosool, Justin J. Lang, Emily Wolfe Phillips","doi":"10.1080/23748834.2023.2260133","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/23748834.2023.2260133","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACTThe purpose of this study was to describe self-report and audit-based measurement tools of neighbourhood walkability and bikeability for health equity and intervention research. We conducted a scoping review following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines. We searched MEDLINE via PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and SPORTDiscus with full text via EBSCO in March 2022. We extracted data from a total of 35 papers which reported on 23 self-report and 15 audit-based measures assessing walkability and bikeability. Studies spanned multiple regions including Africa, America, Australia, and Europe, but most were conducted in the United States (n = 15), followed by Australia (n = 6). The most used self-report measure was the Neighbourhood Environment Walkability Scale (NEWS), while the audit tools Pedestrian Environment Data Scan and Bridge the Gap Street Segment Tool were each used in two studies. The priority populations most often studied were residents of low socio-economic status/high disadvantage neighbourhoods, racialized groups, women, youth, older adults, and rural populations. Ultimately, there is no one tool that can be recommended for use in all contexts and with all priority populations; rather, tools may require adaptations to specific contexts and populations of interest.KEY POINTSWhat is already known on this subject? Neighbourhood walkability and bikeability are associated with individual and population physical activity.Few studies work with priority populations to assess walkability and bikeability.What does this study add? Few self-report or audit-based measurement tools of walkability and bikeability have been used among priority populations.The most common self-report measure was the Neighbourhood Environment Walkability Scale (NEWS).The most common audit tools were the Pedestrian Environment Data Scan (PEDS) and Bridge the Gap Street Segment Tool.KEYWORDS: Auditbikeabilityequityinterventionself-reportwalkability Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Supplementary materialSupplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/23748834.2023.2260133Additional informationFundingFunding to support this work was provided by the Public Health Agency of Canada. MS is supported by a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair on Urban Health Equity Among Young People (2020-2025). SS is supported by a postdoctoral training award from the Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Sherbrooke.Notes on contributorsMartine ShareckMartine Shareck, Ph.D., is a population health researcher and Assistant Professor in the Department of Community Health Sciences at the Université de Sherbrooke. She holds a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair (2020-2025) on urban environments and health equity among young people. Trained in social epidemiology, health promotion and health geography, she has expertise in ","PeriodicalId":72596,"journal":{"name":"Cities & health","volume":"2 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135828679","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Cities & healthPub Date : 2023-09-27DOI: 10.1080/23748834.2023.2260132
Sara Alidoust
{"title":"Sustained liveable cities: the interface of liveability and resiliency","authors":"Sara Alidoust","doi":"10.1080/23748834.2023.2260132","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/23748834.2023.2260132","url":null,"abstract":"Cities across the world are challenged by acute and chronic problems. Liveability policies and plans have generally disregarded the impacts of unexpected shocks and disturbances on cities and the quality of life of communities. This paper argues that the resiliency of a city is a necessary condition for its liveability. Applying qualitative methodologies, the paper builds on in-depth semi-structured interviews to explore the interface between the concepts of liveability and resiliency. Findings suggested that urban planning and policy needs to address the institutionalised inequities built into our cities through ‘local living’. Planning sustained liveable cities was also perceived to be ‘people centred’. ‘Integrated long-term planning’, ‘responsiveness and adaptability’, ‘future-proofing’ and ‘sustainable development’ were also underlined as key principles of developing cities that are both liveable and resilient. These principles are, however, challenging to implement. Future studies need to investigate the mechanisms through which these can be translated into practice.","PeriodicalId":72596,"journal":{"name":"Cities & health","volume":"69 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135536544","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Cities & healthPub Date : 2023-09-21DOI: 10.1080/23748834.2023.2259168
Sarah Ouma, Jane Wairutu, Jacob Omondi
{"title":"Youth and community health volunteers in informal settlements demand safe spaces and inclusion","authors":"Sarah Ouma, Jane Wairutu, Jacob Omondi","doi":"10.1080/23748834.2023.2259168","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/23748834.2023.2259168","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACTThis visual essay showcases the collaborative efforts of Shack Dwellers International (SDI)-Kenya, a non-governmental organization, and Muungano wa Wanavijiji, the federation of the urban poor, in addressing health challenges and promoting inclusivity in Nairobi’s informal settlements. Through community-driven organizing, mapping and action-research the groups generated improved water, sanitation, education, roads, and affordable housing interventions. The collaboration leveraged community health volunteers (CHVs) and a vast network of young people to document and communicate health messages and implement actions. The collaborations expanded Muungano’s Know Your City TV (KYCTV) program, which employs tens of local youth to create media supporting community-wide awareness building of and mobilization for slum upgrading.KEYWORDS: Community driven interventionscommunity health volunteersyouthinformal settlements Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).CreditsWall murals: Mtua Arts. All Photos, KYCTV Team.Additional informationNotes on contributorsSarah OumaSarah Ouma is Communications Officer, SDI-K.Jane WairutuJane Wairutu is Programme Manager, SDI-K.Jacob OmondiJacob Omondi is a Federation leader of Muungano in Nairobi.","PeriodicalId":72596,"journal":{"name":"Cities & health","volume":"42 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"136235899","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Cities & healthPub Date : 2023-09-19DOI: 10.1080/23748834.2023.2244680
Irene Vidal, Marta Fajó-Pascual, Sara Gutiérrez, Esther López, Bárbara Vázquez, Silvia García, Abel Esteban, Paola Hernández, Julia Diez, Manuel Franco
{"title":"Fostering healthy and sustainable nursery school food systems: the case study of Madrid City","authors":"Irene Vidal, Marta Fajó-Pascual, Sara Gutiérrez, Esther López, Bárbara Vázquez, Silvia García, Abel Esteban, Paola Hernández, Julia Diez, Manuel Franco","doi":"10.1080/23748834.2023.2244680","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/23748834.2023.2244680","url":null,"abstract":"City-based initiatives to improve eating habits are being developed. Although there is sufficient evidence of their potential impact, the largest gap lies in the translation of this knowledge into urban food policies and interventions. In this article, we describe the experience of the city of Madrid city healthy and sustainable nursery school food systems. Madrid, the third largest European city, is characterized by large social inequalities. Childhood overweight and obesity affect over 40% of children, with those from low socioeconomic status showing a higher prevalence. In Madrid, the ‘Healthy and Sustainable Food Strategies’ include collaborations between city officials, NGOs, food producers, and academics. We highlight two important achievements within nursery schools (72 centers covering 8,500 children aged 0-3 years) fostering healthier and more sustainable food systems. First, the development and implementation of health and environmental standards in public food procurement practices. Second, the establishment of collaborative Food Steering Groups between the Madrid Council childhood education department and civil society. Madrid’s experience might be of interest to other cities.","PeriodicalId":72596,"journal":{"name":"Cities & health","volume":"37 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135014185","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Cities & healthPub Date : 2023-09-06DOI: 10.1080/23748834.2023.2240478
Smruti Jukur, Neele Wiltgen Georgi, R. Tolhurst, L. Whittaker, Kim Ozano, Vinod Kumar Rao
{"title":"Catalysing effective social accountability systems through community participation","authors":"Smruti Jukur, Neele Wiltgen Georgi, R. Tolhurst, L. Whittaker, Kim Ozano, Vinod Kumar Rao","doi":"10.1080/23748834.2023.2240478","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/23748834.2023.2240478","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Worldwide, infrastructure expansion and visions of ‘slum-free cities’ displace people living in informal settlements. Without community participation in these processes and accountability mechanisms in place’ such displacement can adversely impact people’s health and well-being. This piece outlines SPARC’s (Society For Promotion of Area Resource Centres, SPARC is an NGO based in India promoting action of organised communities of urban poor to negotiate with the state on accessing tenure security, housing, sanitation and civic services) experience promoting community participation among residents of a relocation site in Ahmedabad, fostering coalescence, and rebuilding the dismantled community organisation to foster social accountability systems. The experience has reinforced learnings from previous work that poorly planned relocation increases the risk of impoverishment and negatively impacts residents’ social relations, which severely affects their ability to come together to demand social accountability. As such, we had to innovate our engagement strategies to rebuild trust and confidence and strengthen community participation and organisation, which we share here.","PeriodicalId":72596,"journal":{"name":"Cities & health","volume":"95 1","pages":"982 - 990"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"83693613","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}