Hidden Cities: Unmasking and Overcoming Inequities in Urban Settings
January 31, 2014
The joint UN-HABITAT/WHO report Hidden cities is the result of an intensive collaboration between the UN-HABITAT head office in Nairobi, Kenya,and the World Health Organization. Broad physical, social and economic determinants
influence the health of city dwellers. The natural and built environment influences the health of urban residents through geography and climate, housing quality, water and sanitation systems, air quality, and transportation systems and infrastructure.
The social and economic environment including access to economic and educational opportunities, safety and security, social support and cohesion, and gender equality, has a major impact on the health of city dwellers. Food security and quality affect urban health through food scarcity, such as that caused by drought, and through a shift towards calorie-dense diets, characterized
by high levels of fat, sugar and salt.