Barriers to integration of health and equity into urban design policies in Regina, Saskatchewan
Date
2024-12-06
Authors
Mahani, Akram
Lyeo, Joonsoo Sean
Fung, Agnes
Husack, Kelly
Muhajarine, Nazeem
Diener, Tania
Brown, Chelsea
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Oxford University Press
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Article
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Abstract
Although there is extensive literature on the impact of urban design on health, little is known about the barriers to integrating health into urban design policies. As cities increasingly lead efforts to improve health equity and population health, understanding the perspectives and experiences of municipal actors on health and equity is essential. To address this gap, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 30 stakeholders engaged with urban design policy- and decision-making at the City of Regina in Saskatchewan, Canada. We analysed our data using a qualitative thematic framework. Our research uncovered a lack of shared understanding of health among municipal actors. Interviewees identified several barriers to integrating health and equity in urban design policies, including inaccessibility of evidence; insufficient resourcing; fragmented governance structure; limited legal power of local governments in Canada; a deeply ingrained culture of individualism and lack of representation. Our findings underscore the importance of adopting an integrated and holistic approach for healthy and equitable urban design. As urbanization continues to bring a greater share of the world’s population into urban areas, it is crucial to understand how municipal governance can foster environments that promote residents’ well-being.
Description
Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0
Keywords
health equity, municipality, policy-making, urban design, urban planning, local government, built environment, social determinants of health, healthy cities
Citation
Akram Mahani, Joonsoo Sean Lyeo, Agnes Fung, Kelly Husack, Nazeem Muhajarine, Tania Diener, Chelsea Brown, Barriers to integration of health and equity into urban design policies in Regina, Saskatchewan, Health Promotion International, Volume 39, Issue 6, December 2024, daae184, https://doi.org/10.1093/heapro/daae184
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DOI
https://doi.org/10.1093/heapro/daae184