HLTB04H3 Health & the Urban Environment
Health Studies, Dept. of Social Sciences
University of Toronto
Fall 2011
Lecture 2: What is Urban?
•Population displosion – people from different backgrounds are moving into an area
•Cities came before nations – city states were the most important in history
I. What is urban?
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•Cities
oSuburban areas within cities such as Scarborough, North York in the city of
Toronto
oCity center and the outer area
oMost services are in the city – GTA such as public transit
oThe outer area has less public things, they has less public transportation and
more driving cars
oToday we have a larger city council which has changed over the years
•Physical and social space
•Geographically defined areas that are densely populated
•Inner city and periphery
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•Centers for employment, industry, social and health resources – services, public
libraries, cultural venues (ex. museums), public transit, and other transportation –
airport
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•Highly segregated geographic spaces reflecting inequality and unequal exposures to
risks that threaten human health
oMostly segregated by race
•“Risk spaces”
•Exposure to pollutants, toxins, noise, overcrowding, insecurity, crime, poverty
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•Health and Urban environment
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•What is Health? II
oMedical (Traditional) – absence of illness
oBehavioural (Lifestyle) – diet activity, tobacco, and alcohol use, etc. – Risk
Behaviours
oSocio – environmental – living conditions
Work with communities that are at high risk (ex. single parents,
elderly) to help them improve their quality of their lives