Abstract
Rural poverty and lack of access to education has led to urban migration and fed the constant growth of urban slums in Lima, Peru. Inhabitants of these informal settlements lack land rights and access to a public water supply, resulting in poor sanitation, an inability to grow food, and suboptimal health outcomes. A repeated measures longitudinal pilot study utilizing participatory design methods was conducted in Lima between September 2013 and September 2014 to determine the feasibility of implementing household gardens and the subsequent impact of increased green space on well-being. Anthropometric data and a composite of five validated mental health surveys were collected at the baseline, 6-months, and 12-months after garden construction. Significant increases from the baseline in all domains of quality of life, including: physical (p < 0.01), psychological (p = 0.05), social (p = 0.02), environmental (p = 0.02), and overall social capital (p < 0.01) were identified 12 months after garden construction. Life-threatening experiences decreased significantly compared to the baseline (p = 0.02). There were no significant changes in parent or partner empathy (p = 0.21), BMI (p = 0.95), waist circumference (p = 0.18), or blood pressure (p = 0.66) at 6 or 12 months. Improved access to green space in the form of a household garden can significantly improve mental health in an urban slum setting.
Highlights
Participation in gardening activities can increase the availability of fresh fruits and vegetables in “food deserts” within low-income communities [1,2]; improve food security [3]; have protective effects against the onset of chronic, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer [4,5]; reduce stress [6]; facilitate social inclusion and community connection [7]; and improve the overall air quality [8]
Previous investigators have found that in Peru, a low socioeconomic status is strongly associated with higher burden of NCDs such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases [13,14], and it is well documented in the health literature that reductions in body mass indexes (BMIs) and increased consumption of fruits and vegetables can reduce the risk for the development of these chronic conditions. These findings suggest that increased consumption of fruits and vegetables via household and community gardening mechanisms could have implications for the prevention and management of NCDs in Peru
There was no significant change in BMI, waist circumference, or blood pressure at either follow-up
Summary
Impacts of Gardening on Health in Urban Slums. The impacts of gardening and access to green space on various aspects of physical and mental health are well documented. Participation in gardening activities can increase the availability of fresh fruits and vegetables in “food deserts” within low-income communities [1,2]; improve food security [3]; have protective effects against the onset of chronic, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer [4,5]; reduce stress [6]; facilitate social inclusion and community connection [7]; and improve the overall air quality [8]. Green space in the form of urban gardens has been shown to improve access to nutritious food [9,10] and, if the gardens are large enough, to shield slum dwellers from volatile food prices [3]. Res. Public Health 2018, 15, 1751; doi:10.3390/ijerph15081751 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph
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