The geographical approach to urban environment-health relationships.

The modern city covers a sizeable area and contains communities with a variety of social and occupational backgrounds. The study of the intra-urban variations in health status of city dwellers is considered a worthwhile field of study. The weight of 5321 new-born babies in 24 cells (localities) in different parts of Moscow in 1978 have been examined, as have the incidence of grippe (influenza) and acute respiratory disease during their first year of life. Such health-status parameters have been related to both the general character of the environments within the city and to certain social indicators. Regression analysis reveals the importance and complementary nature of such influences on the health status of the new-born child.