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Urbanisation and health: methodological difficulties in undertaking epidemiological research in developing countries
1Centre for Epidemiological Research, Medical Research Council, Tygerberg, South Africa.
Social Science & Medicine (1982)
|January 1, 1990
Summary
Urbanisation impacts community health, with the urban poor facing the greatest risks. Epidemiologists must overcome research challenges to improve urban health outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Urban Studies
Background:
- Rapid urbanisation causes complex societal changes with varying health effects.
- The urban poor in developing nations are disproportionately affected by adverse health outcomes.
- Epidemiologists are crucial for planning and addressing urban health needs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationship between urbanisation and health.
- To identify high-risk populations and modifiable risk factors.
- To address methodological challenges in urban health research in developing countries.
Main Methods:
- Focus on epidemiological research methodologies.
- Analysis of challenges in defining urban areas and residence.
- Evaluation of data comparability, intra-urban variability, and bias in studies.
Main Results:
- Methodological difficulties hinder accurate urban health research.
- Challenges include defining urban areas, data comparability, and selection bias.
- Specific issues arise in associating health outcomes with urban exposures.
Conclusions:
- Addressing methodological issues is vital for effective urban health research.
- Epidemiologists need to overcome these challenges to improve urban community health.
- Developing strategies to overcome these difficulties is essential for public health interventions.