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Published on: May 19, 2015
Rethinking Urbanicity: Conceptualizing Neighborhood Effects on Women's Mental Health in Kampala's Urban Slums
Monica H Swahn1, Peter Kalulu2, Hakimu Sseviiri3
1Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23219, USA.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
|January 28, 2026
Summary
Urbanicity significantly impacts mental health, especially in informal settlements. Participatory research in Kampala reveals neighborhood factors like sanitation and social networks shape wellbeing, highlighting resilience amidst deprivation.
Area of Science:
- Urban mental health research
- Social determinants of health
- Community-based participatory research
Background:
- Traditional urbanicity measures inadequately represent informal settlements in low- and middle-income countries.
- Understanding neighborhood effects is crucial for mental health in diverse urban settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conceptualize neighborhood effects in informal settlements through the lived experiences of young women in Kampala, Uganda.
- To explore how specific neighborhood features influence mental wellbeing in a slum context.
Main Methods:
- Utilized participatory research methods, including community mapping and Photovoice, within the TOPOWA study.
- Engaged young women in identifying and documenting neighborhood features impacting their wellbeing.
Main Results:
- Identified key neighborhood stressors (e.g., poor waste management, violence, harassment) and protective resources (e.g., education, health centers, social networks).
- Highlighted the multidimensional nature of urbanicity in slums, encompassing deprivation, fragmentation, exclusion, and resilience.
Conclusions:
- Reconceptualizes urbanicity in slum contexts as a multidimensional construct influencing mental health.
- Emphasizes the importance of participatory evidence for informing mental health interventions and global research in low-resource settings.
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