Health
HealthThis paper focusses on one central aspect of urban development: transport and urban form and how the two shape the provision of access to people, goods and services, and information in cities. The paper suggests that more compact urban growth, aligned with the increased provision of public transport infrastructure and services and pro-active support for non-motorised transport… Read more
Slums are densely populated, neglected parts of cities where housing and living conditions are exceptionally poor. In-situ slum upgrading, at its basic level, involves improving the physical environment of the existing area, such as improving and installing basic infrastructure like water, sanitation, solid waste collection, electricity, storm water drainage, access roads and footpaths, and street… Read more
The world is becoming more urban every day, and the process has been ongoing since the industrial revolution in the 18th century. The United Nations now estimates that 3.9 billion people live in urban centres. The rapid influx of residents is however not universal and the developed countries are already urban, but the big rise… Read more
The 16th annual State of the World’s Mothers report has a special focus on the rapidly urbanising world and the poorest mothers and children who must struggle to survive despite overall urban progress. Key findings of the report include: the world, especially the developing world, is becoming urbanised at a breathtaking pace, with virtually all future population growth… Read more
In 2008, for the first time in history, half of the world’s population lived in urban areas. While this milestone includes both developed and developing countries, by 2020, urban will become the predominant mode of living in the developing world. Although considerable attention has been, and should be, focused on addressing poverty and health in… Read more
Rapid and uncontrolled urbanisation is evident across the majority of low and middle-income (LMIC) countries. This growth is particularly evident in South Asia where urban populations are projected to rise from 45 to 62 per cent by 2050. Yet, much needs to be done to respond to this scale of growth. The infrastructure—housing, sanitation, health care, education,… Read more
This report presents new data on the health of urban residents from nearly 100 countries, updating the first joint WHO-UN Habitat global report on urban health titled Hidden cities: unmasking and overcoming health inequities in urban settings. The new Global Report deconstructs the complex challenges of health and health inequity in cities everywhere. It presents… Read more
Gender, in a given society at a specific time and place, is of critical importance to young child survival and development (YCSD). Effective YCSD programmes must respond to how gender influences the character of social norms, processes of decision-making, division of labour and differences in access to resources among girls, women, boys and men. In… Read more
An “environment of relationships” is crucial for the development of a child’s brain architecture, which lays the foundation for later outcomes such as academic performance, mental health, and interpersonal skills. However, there is a greater need for policies that consider the importance of adult-child relationships for child well-being. This working paper from the National Scientific… Read more
The aim of this study was to evaluate the short-term impact of a group crisis intervention for children aged 9–15 years from five refugee camps in the Gaza Strip during ongoing conflict. Children were selected if they reported moderate to severe post-traumatic stress reactions, and were allocated to group intervention, encouraging expression of experiences and… Read more
Around the world, an estimated 300,000 to 500,000 children are involved in armed conflict. Children can be abducted into a fighting force to fight or serve as sex slaves. Child soldiers have depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress symptoms; however, evidence is mixed because of methodologic limitations. Various mental health interventions have been tried, with promising… Read more