Neighbourhood Research: Conceptual Considerations for Population Health

Abstract

A population health approach recognizes that influences on health operate at many levels, one of which is the neighbourhoods in which people live. Neighbourhood health research is useful for guiding policy and interventions to improve population health status. There is much debate in the literature surrounding the concept of neighbourhood and there is wide variability in how neighbourhood studies are conducted. This paper argues that a population health approach can assist with clarification of the concept of neighbourhood.