Skip to main content
Erschienen in: Journal of Urban Health 1/2014

01.02.2014

Developing a Conceptual Framework of Urban Health Observatories toward Integrating Research and Evidence into Urban Policy for Health and Health Equity

verfasst von: W. T. Caiaffa, A. A. L. Friche, M. A. S. Dias, A. L. Meireles, C. F. Ignacio, A. Prasad, M. Kano

Erschienen in: Journal of Urban Health | Ausgabe 1/2014

Einloggen, um Zugang zu erhalten

Abstract

Detailed information on health linked to geographic, sociodemographic, and environmental data are required by city governments to monitor health and the determinants of health. These data are critical for guiding local interventions, resource allocation, and planning decisions, yet they are too often non-existent or scattered. This study aimed to develop a conceptual framework of Urban Health Observatories (UHOs) as an institutional mechanism which can help synthesize evidence and incorporate it into urban policy-making for health and health equity. A survey of a select group of existent UHOs was conducted using an instrument based on an a priori conceptual framework of key structural and functional characteristics of UHOs. A purposive sample of seven UHOs was surveyed, including four governmental, two non-governmental, and one university-based observatory, each from a different country. Descriptive and framework analysis methods were used to analyze the data and to refine the conceptual framework in light of the empirical data. The UHOs were often a product of unique historical circumstances. They were relatively autonomous and capable of developing their own locally sensitive agenda. They often had strong networks for accessing data and were able to synthesize them at the urban level as well as disaggregate them into smaller units. Some UHOs were identified as not only assessing but also responding to local needs. The findings from this study were integrated into a conceptual framework which illustrates how UHOs can play a vital role in monitoring trends in health determinants, outcomes, and equity; optimizing an intersectoral urban information system; incorporating research on health into urban policies and systems; and providing technical guidance on research and evidence-based policy making. In order to be most effective, UHOs should be an integral part of the urban governance system, where multiple sectors of government, the civil society, and businesses can participate in taking the right actions to promote health equity.
Literatur
1.
Zurück zum Zitat Vlahov D, Boufford JI. Urban health in a global perspective. In: Vlahov D et al., eds. Urban health: global perspectives. New York: Wiley; 2010: 1–12. Vlahov D, Boufford JI. Urban health in a global perspective. In: Vlahov D et al., eds. Urban health: global perspectives. New York: Wiley; 2010: 1–12.
3.
Zurück zum Zitat Faguet JP. Does decentralization increase responsiveness to local needs? Evidence from Bolivia. Journal of Public Economics. 2004; 88(3–4): 867–893.CrossRef Faguet JP. Does decentralization increase responsiveness to local needs? Evidence from Bolivia. Journal of Public Economics. 2004; 88(3–4): 867–893.CrossRef
4.
Zurück zum Zitat Rydin Y, Bleahu A, Davies M, et al. Shaping cities for health: complexity and the planning of urban environments in the 21st century. Lancet. 2012; 379: 2079–2108.PubMedCentralPubMedCrossRef Rydin Y, Bleahu A, Davies M, et al. Shaping cities for health: complexity and the planning of urban environments in the 21st century. Lancet. 2012; 379: 2079–2108.PubMedCentralPubMedCrossRef
7.
Zurück zum Zitat Chan M. Introduction. In: Vlahov D et al., eds. Urban health: global perspectives. New York: Wiley; 2010: 17–20. Chan M. Introduction. In: Vlahov D et al., eds. Urban health: global perspectives. New York: Wiley; 2010: 17–20.
8.
Zurück zum Zitat Macintyre S, McKay L, Ellaway A. Are rich people or poor people more likely to be ill? Lay perceptions, by social class and neighbourhood, of inequalities in health. Social Science & Medicine. 2005; 60(2): 313–317.CrossRef Macintyre S, McKay L, Ellaway A. Are rich people or poor people more likely to be ill? Lay perceptions, by social class and neighbourhood, of inequalities in health. Social Science & Medicine. 2005; 60(2): 313–317.CrossRef
9.
Zurück zum Zitat McMichael AJ, Woodruff RE, Hales S. Climate change and human health. Lancet. 2006; 367(9513): 859–869.PubMedCrossRef McMichael AJ, Woodruff RE, Hales S. Climate change and human health. Lancet. 2006; 367(9513): 859–869.PubMedCrossRef
10.
Zurück zum Zitat Vlahov D, et al. Roundtable on Urban Living Environment Research (RULER). Journal of Urban Health. 2011; 88(5): 793–857.PubMedCrossRef Vlahov D, et al. Roundtable on Urban Living Environment Research (RULER). Journal of Urban Health. 2011; 88(5): 793–857.PubMedCrossRef
12.
Zurück zum Zitat Galea S, Vlahov D. Handbook of urban health: population, methods, and practice. New York: Springer; 2005.CrossRef Galea S, Vlahov D. Handbook of urban health: population, methods, and practice. New York: Springer; 2005.CrossRef
13.
Zurück zum Zitat Ross Z, Matte T, Kitson H. Taking the pulse of an urban world: mechanisms for characterizing urban health and urban health equity. White Paper prepared for the World Health Organization Centre for Health. Kobe: WHO Kobe Centre; 2011. Ross Z, Matte T, Kitson H. Taking the pulse of an urban world: mechanisms for characterizing urban health and urban health equity. White Paper prepared for the World Health Organization Centre for Health. Kobe: WHO Kobe Centre; 2011.
14.
Zurück zum Zitat Gattini CH. Implementing national health observatories: operational approach and strategic recommendations. Technical Series on Information for Decision-Making. PAHO. Santiago do Chile, 2009. Gattini CH. Implementing national health observatories: operational approach and strategic recommendations. Technical Series on Information for Decision-Making. PAHO. Santiago do Chile, 2009.
15.
Zurück zum Zitat Urbana S. Marco Conceptual y Analítico. Una propuesta para el diseño de políticas públicas, estrategias e intervenciones em salud urbana em las grandes ciudades de las Américas. México: OPS–OMS; 2006. Urbana S. Marco Conceptual y Analítico. Una propuesta para el diseño de políticas públicas, estrategias e intervenciones em salud urbana em las grandes ciudades de las Américas. México: OPS–OMS; 2006.
16.
Zurück zum Zitat Vlahov D, Caiaffa W. Healthy urban governance for population health in Belo Horizonte: participatory budgeting. In: Sclar, E.D. and Volavka-Close, N. eds. The urban transformation: health, shelter and climate change adaptation. London: Earthscan; 2012:63–81. Vlahov D, Caiaffa W. Healthy urban governance for population health in Belo Horizonte: participatory budgeting. In: Sclar, E.D. and Volavka-Close, N. eds. The urban transformation: health, shelter and climate change adaptation. London: Earthscan; 2012:63–81.
17.
Zurück zum Zitat Fazekas M, Ettelt S, Newbould J, Nolte E. Framework for assessing, improving and enhancing health service planning. Technical report. RAND Corporation, 2010. http://www.rand.org. Accessed January 24, 2012. Fazekas M, Ettelt S, Newbould J, Nolte E. Framework for assessing, improving and enhancing health service planning. Technical report. RAND Corporation, 2010. http://​www.​rand.​org. Accessed January 24, 2012.
19.
Zurück zum Zitat WHO. Framework and standards for country health information systems/Health Metrics Network, World Health Organization. 2nd edition, 2008. WHO. Framework and standards for country health information systems/Health Metrics Network, World Health Organization. 2nd edition, 2008.
20.
Zurück zum Zitat Ritchie J, Spencer L. Qualitative data analysis for applied policy research. In: Bryman A, Burgess RG, eds. Analyzing qualitative data. London: Routledge; 1994: 173–194.CrossRef Ritchie J, Spencer L. Qualitative data analysis for applied policy research. In: Bryman A, Burgess RG, eds. Analyzing qualitative data. London: Routledge; 1994: 173–194.CrossRef
21.
Zurück zum Zitat Noyes J, Lewin S. Chapter 5: extracting qualitative evidence. In: Noyes J, Booth A, Hannes K, Harden A, Harris J, Lewin S, Lockwood C. eds. Supplementary guidance for inclusion of qualitative research in Cochrane Systematic Reviews of Interventions. Version 1 (updated August 2011). Cochrane Collaboration Qualitative Methods Group, 2011. http://cqrmg.cochrane.org/supplemental-handbook-guidance. Accessed January 13, 2012. Noyes J, Lewin S. Chapter 5: extracting qualitative evidence. In: Noyes J, Booth A, Hannes K, Harden A, Harris J, Lewin S, Lockwood C. eds. Supplementary guidance for inclusion of qualitative research in Cochrane Systematic Reviews of Interventions. Version 1 (updated August 2011). Cochrane Collaboration Qualitative Methods Group, 2011. http://​cqrmg.​cochrane.​org/​supplemental-handbook-guidance. Accessed January 13, 2012.
22.
Zurück zum Zitat Srivastava A, Thomson SB. Framework analysis: a qualitative methodology for applied policy research. JOAAG. 2009; 4(2): 72–79. Srivastava A, Thomson SB. Framework analysis: a qualitative methodology for applied policy research. JOAAG. 2009; 4(2): 72–79.
24.
Zurück zum Zitat Hemmings J, Wilkinson J. What is a public health observatory? Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. 2003; 57: 324–326.PubMedCrossRef Hemmings J, Wilkinson J. What is a public health observatory? Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. 2003; 57: 324–326.PubMedCrossRef
25.
Zurück zum Zitat Caiaffa WT, Ferreira FR, Ferreira AD, Oliveira CDL, Camargos VP, Proietti FA. Saúde urbana: “a cidade é uma estranha senhora, que hoje sorri e amanhã te devora”. Ciência Saúde Coletiva. 2008; 13(6): 1785–1796.PubMedCrossRef Caiaffa WT, Ferreira FR, Ferreira AD, Oliveira CDL, Camargos VP, Proietti FA. Saúde urbana: “a cidade é uma estranha senhora, que hoje sorri e amanhã te devora”. Ciência Saúde Coletiva. 2008; 13(6): 1785–1796.PubMedCrossRef
26.
Zurück zum Zitat Caiaffa WT, Nabuco AL, Friche AAL, Proietti FA. Urban health and governance model in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. In: Vlahov D, Boufford JI, Pearson C, Norris L, eds. Urban health: global perspectives. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass; 2010: 437–452. Caiaffa WT, Nabuco AL, Friche AAL, Proietti FA. Urban health and governance model in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. In: Vlahov D, Boufford JI, Pearson C, Norris L, eds. Urban health: global perspectives. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass; 2010: 437–452.
Metadaten
Titel
Developing a Conceptual Framework of Urban Health Observatories toward Integrating Research and Evidence into Urban Policy for Health and Health Equity
verfasst von
W. T. Caiaffa
A. A. L. Friche
M. A. S. Dias
A. L. Meireles
C. F. Ignacio
A. Prasad
M. Kano
Publikationsdatum
01.02.2014
Verlag
Springer US
Erschienen in
Journal of Urban Health / Ausgabe 1/2014
Print ISSN: 1099-3460
Elektronische ISSN: 1468-2869
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11524-013-9812-0

Weitere Artikel der Ausgabe 1/2014

Journal of Urban Health 1/2014 Zur Ausgabe