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Journal article
Because space matters: conceptual framework to help distinguish slum from non-slum urban areas
BMJ global health, v 4(2), pp e001267-e001267
Apr 2019
PMID: 31139443
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
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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Details
- Title
- Because space matters: conceptual framework to help distinguish slum from non-slum urban areas
- Creators
- Richard Lilford - University of WarwickCatherine Kyobutungi - African Population and Health Research CenterRobert Ndugwa - United Nations Human Settlements ProgrammeJo Sartori - University of WarwickSamuel I Watson - University of WarwickRichard Sliuzas - Department of Urban and Regional Planning and Geo-Information ManagementMonika Kuffer - Department of Urban and Regional Planning and Geo-Information ManagementTimothy Hofer - University of Detroit MercyJoao Porto de Albuquerque - Institute for Global Sustainable Development, University of Warwick, Coventry, UKAlex 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
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Public, Environmental & Occupational Health