Space in its place: developing the link in medical geography

Area of Science:

• Geography
• Health Research
• Social Theory

Background:

• Place is increasingly recognized as a central concept in social theory, imbued with meaning.
• Places are interconnected through spatial relationships, such as distance and proximity.
• Traditional geometric views of space contrast with experienced and socio-spatial conceptualizations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To re-examine the interrelationship between place and space in geography.
• To highlight the importance of this relationship for health research.
• To advocate for a recursive understanding of space and place in medical geography.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual analysis of space and place constructs.
• Distinguishing between geometric space, experienced space, and socio-spatial conceptualizations.
• Drawing illustrations from case studies in New Zealand.

Main Results:

• A recursive understanding of space and place is proposed as a valuable direction for medical geography.
• This approach considers how space influences place characteristics.
• It also examines how place attributes affect spatial processes.

Conclusions:

• Integrating space and place concepts is crucial for advancing health geography.
• A nuanced understanding of socio-spatial dynamics is essential for health research.
• The proposed framework offers a more comprehensive approach to understanding health and healthcare delivery.