Health-Risk Behaviour in Deprived Neighbourhoods Compared with Non-Deprived Neighbourhoods: A Systematic Literature Review of Quantitative Observational Studies.

Maria Holst Algren,Gabriele Berg-Beckhoff,Pernille Tanggaard Andersen,Carsten Kronborg Bak,Hajo Zeeb

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0139297

Maria Holst Algren, Gabriele Berg-Beckhoff + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0139297

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Journal: PloS one	Publication Date: Oct 27, 2015
Citations: 107	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: University of Southern Denmark, Aalborg University

Abstract

BackgroundThere has been increasing interest in neighbourhoods’ influence on individuals’ health-risk behaviours, such as smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity and diet. The aim of this review was to systematically review recent studies on health-risk behaviour among adults who live in deprived neighbourhoods compared with those who live in non-deprived neighbourhoods and to summarise what kind of operationalisations of neighbourhood deprivation that were used in the studies.MethodsPRISMA guidelines for systematic reviews were followed. Systematic searches were performed in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and Sociological s using relevant search terms, Boolean operators, and truncation, and reference lists were scanned. Quantitative observational studies that examined health-risk behaviour in deprived neighbourhoods compared with non-deprived neighbourhoods were eligible for inclusion.ResultsThe inclusion criteria were met by 22 studies. The available literature showed a positive association between smoking and physical inactivity and living in deprived neighbourhoods compared with non-deprived neighbourhoods. In regard to low fruit and vegetable consumption and alcohol consumption, the results were ambiguous, and no clear differences were found. Numerous different operationalisations of neighbourhood deprivation were used in the studies.ConclusionSubstantial evidence indicates that future health interventions in deprived neighbourhoods should focus on smoking and physical inactivity. We suggest that alcohol interventions should be population based rather than based on the specific needs of deprived neighbourhoods. More research is needed on fruit and vegetable consumption. In future studies, the lack of a uniform operationalisation of neighbourhood deprivation must be addressed.

Highlights

From a public health perspective, it is important to reduce social inequalities in health [1]
The available literature showed a positive association between smoking and physical inactivity and living in deprived neighbourhoods compared with non-deprived neighbourhoods
Based on the studies that were included in this review, there is consistent evidence that smoking and physical inactivity are more prevalent among adult residents in deprived neighbourhoods than among residents in non-deprived neighbourhoods

Summary

Introduction

From a public health perspective, it is important to reduce social inequalities in health [1]. Previous research has shown that socioeconomic health inequalities have widened in recent decades [2,3]. In the last 20 years, there has been increasing interest in neighbourhoods’ influence on individual health-risk behaviours such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, physical inactivity and poor diet [4]. Health-risk behaviour is an important factor that increases the risk of morbidity [2] and can explain some of the socioeconomic inequalities in morbidity and mortality [8]. There has been increasing interest in neighbourhoods’ influence on individuals’ health-risk behaviours, such as smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity and diet. The aim of this review was to systematically review recent studies on health-risk behaviour among adults who live in deprived neighbourhoods compared with those who live in non-deprived neighbourhoods and to summarise what kind of operationalisations of neighbourhood deprivation that were used in the studies

Objectives

Results

Discussion

Conclusion