Because space matters: conceptual framework to help distinguish slum from non-slum urban areas

Richard Lilford; Catherine Kyobutungi; Robert Ndugwa; Jo Sartori; Samuel I Watson; Richard Sliuzas; Monika Kuffer; Timothy Hofer; Joao Porto de Albuquerque; Alex Ezeh

doi:10.1136/bmjgh-2018-001267

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Because space matters: conceptual framework to help distinguish slum from non-slum urban areas

Journal article

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Peer reviewed

Because space matters: conceptual framework to help distinguish slum from non-slum urban areas

Richard Lilford, Catherine Kyobutungi, Robert Ndugwa, Jo Sartori, Samuel I Watson, Richard Sliuzas, Monika Kuffer, Timothy Hofer, Joao Porto de Albuquerque and Alex Ezeh

BMJ global health, v 4(2), pp e001267-e001267

Apr 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2018-001267

PMID: 31139443

Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel

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Abstract

Despite an estimated one billion people around the world living in slums, most surveys of health and well-being do not distinguish between slum and non-slum urban residents. Identifying people who live in slums is important for research purposes and also to enable policymakers, programme managers, donors and non-governmental organisations to better target investments and services to areas of greatest deprivation. However, there is no consensus on what a slum is let alone how slums can be distinguished from non-slum urban precincts. Nor has attention been given to a more fine-grained classification of urban spaces that might go beyond a simple slum/non-slum dichotomy. The purpose of this paper is to provide a conceptual framework to help tackle the related issues of slum definition and classification of the urban landscape. We discuss:The concept of space as an epidemiological variable that results in ‘neighbourhood effects’.The problems of slum area definition when there is no ‘gold standard’.A long-list of variables from which a selection must be made in defining or classifying urban slum spaces.Methods to combine any set of identified variables in an operational slum area definition.Two basic approaches to spatial slum area definitions—top-down (starting with a predefined area which is then classified according to features present in that area) and bottom-up (defining the areal unit based on its features).Different requirements of a slum area definition according to its intended use.Implications for research and future development.

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Title: Because space matters: conceptual framework to help distinguish slum from non-slum urban areas
Creators: Richard Lilford - University of Warwick
Catherine Kyobutungi - African Population and Health Research Center
Robert Ndugwa - United Nations Human Settlements Programme
Jo Sartori - University of Warwick
Samuel I Watson - University of Warwick
Richard Sliuzas - Department of Urban and Regional Planning and Geo-Information Management
Monika Kuffer - Department of Urban and Regional Planning and Geo-Information Management
Timothy Hofer - University of Detroit Mercy
Joao Porto de Albuquerque - Institute for Global Sustainable Development, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
Alex Ezeh - Drexel University
Publication Details: BMJ global health, v 4(2), pp e001267-e001267
Publisher: British Medical Journal (BMJ)
Resource Type: Journal article
Language: English
Academic Unit: Community Health and Prevention
Web of Science ID: WOS:000471826500021
Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85064993336
Other Identifier: 991019169326704721