Urban Health Research in Developing Countries

The recent rapid growth of urban populations in developing countries, particularly the urban poor, is making increasing demands upon public sector services. Health care provision in many developing countries has traditionally been focused on rural areas. As the favelas and shanty towns continue to grow there is an increasing need to review the applicability of rural primary health care experience for use within urban areas. This book presents one of the first collations of research work currently being carried out in this field. The chapters come from the main groups of researchers on urban health, north and south. There are descriptions of the various approaches for carrying out public health related research in the urban setting. The important question of how research can inform and help to set policy is also addressed. Urban environmental health and urban health service provision are discussed. There are also chapters that consider some of the wider issues of public health, such as the social aspects of the urban population, topics which are not always included in traditional public health research volumes. By bringing all the key work in urban health research together this book not only surveys what has already happened, but also sets the agenda for future initiatives. The book also presents a beneficial resource for all government and non-government organisations working in this area.