Embedding Health Equity Strategically within Healthy Built Environments to Improve Walkability ( breakout presentation )

Abstract

Background Population health promotion approaches have become increasingly focused in recent years on improving walkability in built environments. Communities, health sectors and public leaders alike have recognized that factors such as transportation networks and neighbourhood design have a significant impact on the physical activity levels and health of populations. Despite this attention on healthy built environments and walkability, health equity is often not an explicit strategic focus. Description of Program Recognizing the need for frameworks to prioritize, integrate, and measure health equity within built environments, Saskatoon Health Region Population and Public Health Services (SHR) has embedded health equity within this work. Aligning population-level approaches, a health equity focus, and the overarching goal of better health for all has positive impacts on walkability and other forms of active transportation through healthy built environments. With partners, SHR carried out a Health Equity Impact Assessment of the City of Saskatoon’s Growth Plan, focussing on the areas of active transportation, public transportation and growth along major corridors. This report highlighted the potential negative impacts that can be mitigated as well as the positive impacts that can be enhanced by incorporating health equity into the planning process. Outcomes Walkability, and active transportation overall, has many benefits, including improved health. It also can be a catalyst for building social capital, supporting economic development and providing economical means of supporting people of all income levels to move around their communities. Implications In order to foster better health for all, health equity must be at the forefront within a health promotion strategy, working in partnership with municipal governments and other partners. Deliberate and explicit planning is needed in order to integrate health equity into walkability and how communities are planned and built. Public Health can act as a partner in the work alongside municipalities, to help bring this perspective to facilitate physical and social environments for all to thrive.