Urbanization, Urbanicity, and Health

Authors: Vlahov, D.; Galea, S.

Source: Journal of Urban Health: Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine, Volume 79, Supplement 1, December 2002 , pp. S1-S12(12)

Publisher: Springer

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Abstract:

A majority of the world's population will live in urban areas by 2007. The most rapidly urbanizing cities are in less-wealthy nations, and the pace of growth varies among regions. There are few data linking features of cities to the health of populations. We suggest a framework to guide inquiry into features of the urban environment that affect health and well-being. We consider two key dimensions: urbanization and urbanicity. Urbanization refers to change in size, density, and heterogeneity of cities. Urbanicity refers to the impact of living in urban areas at a given time. A review of the published literature suggests that most of the important factors that affect health can be considered within three broad themes: the social environment, the physical environment, and access to health and social services. The development of urban health as a discipline will need to draw on the strengths of diverse academic areas of study (e.g., ecology, epidemiology, sociology). Cross-national research may provide insights about the key features of cities and how urbanization influences population health.

Document Type: Original article

Affiliations: 1: Drs. Vlahov and Galea are with the Center for Urban Epidemiologic Studies, New York Academy of Medicine, New York, New York.

Publication date: 2002-12-01