Systematic Observations of Health Damaging Factors in Informal Neighbourhoods in Aleppo, Syria-A Pilot Study

Abstract

ISEE-0624 Background and Objectives: Systematic social observation is a method to evaluate pathways by which neighbourhood environments impact health. This method has mainly been used in developed country settings. In Aleppo (population 2,500,000) informal settlements occupy about 45% of the city’s inhabited area and are home to one million people. Informal settlements are neighbourhoods built without planning and for which environmental statistics are not available. The objective of this study was to pilot a context specific procedure and method to systematically assess characteristics of urban informal neighbourhoods relevant to health and wellbeing. Methods: An observational instrument was developed based on a literature review, observations in informal neighbourhoods and interviews with a purposive sample of key informants. The observational instrument measured land use (housing and industry); environmental quality and the social environment. The unit of observation (the spatial scale at which neighbourhood characteristics may differ) was identified as 100 meters of the right hand side of a street. The pilot study took place in Shaikh Maksoud, the largest informal settlement in Aleppo. We identified key pointers using a Garmin Global Positioning System and downloaded the waypoints into Google Earth Plus. Observation points were selected randomly. Results: The achieved sample comprised of twenty one random points, each consisting of three units of observations. We found big variability in the quality of the environment between the points of the observation within the same neighbourhood. For example, the eastern part had a high industrial-residential mix and the worse environmental quality. The best conditions were observed in the parts closer to the border with the formal area. The main challenge for adapting the methodology was to define the unit of observation. Conclusions: Systematic social observation can be a useful method in studies of health and place in developing countries.