Disadvantaged Urban Communities Research Articles

Supporting child and youth participation in service design and decision-making: The ReSPECT approach

The ReSPECT Project (Reconceptualising Services from the Perspectives of Children and Teens) was conducted in a disadvantaged urban community in Australia, with young people who experience marginalisation and who were involved with multiple service agencies across a range of service sectors. Its purpose was to work closely with young people to understand their experiences of service engagement, their perspectives on the service priorities for young people in their area, and to support them in the development, trial and implementation of a youth led service initiative. This paper describes the methodology employed with the young people, its theoretical underpinnings, and the challenges that needed to be overcome in the conduct of this research. Critical to the ReSPECT approach is relationship building and capacity development with local service providers. This aspect of our work is also briefly described in this paper. The ReSPECT approach makes a significant contribution to the participatory methodological literature. It is distinctive from existing approaches because (1) it gives equal attention to the sustained engagement and scaffolding of young people in the development of ideas, and to the capacity building of service providers addressing organisational culture and constraints; (2) it follows the process of service change from the conceptualisation of youth-led ideas, through to development, partnership, implementation and evaluation; and (3) it is designed for engagement with marginalised young people with diverse service experiences, whose voices are so often absent from participatory projects.

“The Urban Poor and Vulnerable Are Hit Hardest by the Heat”: A Heat Equity Lens to Understand Community Perceptions of Climate Change, Urban Heat Islands, and Green Infrastructure

As the global temperature and rapid urbanization continue to rise, urban heat islands (UHIs) also continue to increase across the world. Following the heat equity concept, UHIs disproportionately impact disadvantaged or overburdened communities. Green infrastructure (GI) has been at the forefront of UHI mitigation efforts, including nature-based solutions like parks, pervious open spaces, wooded areas, green roofs, rain gardens, and shade trees. In this paper, we use a heat equity lens to analyze community perceptions of the intersection of climate change, UHI, and GI in Camden, New Jersey—a post-industrial city with a history of environmental injustices. Based on a mixed-methods analysis of survey responses (n = 107), 11 years of relevant X (formerly Twitter) posts (n = 367), and geospatial data, we present community perceptions of and connections between climate change, UHI, and GI and discuss major themes that emerged from the data: perceived heat inequity in Camden triggers negative emotions; a public knowledge gap exists regarding climate change-UHI-GI connections; and perceived inequitable distribution of GI and certain GI planning and maintenance practices may negatively impact UHI mitigation strategies. We argue these themes are useful to urban planners and relevant professionals while planning for heat equity and mitigating UHI effects in disadvantaged urban communities like Camden.

Exploring the Impact of Socioeconomic Status and Environmental Characteristics on Child and Adolescent Mental Health in Disadvantaged Urban Communities in West Java

This quantitative study investigates the complex interactions that exist between neighborhood features, children's and adolescents' mental health, and socioeconomic status (SES) in underprivileged urban neighborhoods in West Java. 340 individuals in a broad sample offered insights into neighborhood characteristics, SES indicators, demographic variances, and mental health outcomes. The results highlight the critical role that economic differences play by revealing a strong negative connection between SES and mental health. Furthermore, neighborhood features—in particular, social cohesiveness and safety perceptions—have been shown to have a significant impact on mental health outcomes. These neighborhood characteristics, according to mediation analyses, moderate the association between SES and mental health, providing detailed insights into the underlying mechanisms. The results help provide a more comprehensive picture of young people's mental health in urban environments, which helps shape targeted treatments and policies for vulnerable groups.

Cost-Effectiveness a Parenting Skills Program Implemented in Public PreK Schools in Disadvantaged Urban Communities.

Little is known about the cost-effectiveness of parent training programs when offered universally in U.S. elementary schools in disadvantaged urban communities. To estimate the cost-effectiveness of a universal school-based implementation study of the Chicago Parent Program (CPP). CPP was offered universally from 2014 to 2017 to parents of PreK students in 12 Baltimore City Title 1 schools (n = 380; 61.1% Black/African American, 24.1% Hispanic). CPP program implementation and operating costs were estimated using microcosting methods and data drawn from study records. A Complier Average Causal Effects (CACE) framework was used to estimate an Incremental Cost Effectiveness Ratio (ICER) for CPP's average cost per child per 1% decrease in conduct problem prevalence at follow-up. This ICER was then compared with comparable ICERs for four parenting interventions that have been implemented and evaluated in Europe: Connect, Incredible Years, COPE, and Comet. CPP cost $937.51 per child (95% CI: $902.09 to $971.92). Adjusted CACE estimates indicated that CPP resulted in a 31.4% reduction (95% CI: -39.7% to -23.9%) in conduct problem prevalence at follow-up among children whose parents attended CPP. The mean ICER for CPP was $29.86 per each 1% reduction in prevalence (95% CI: $21.05 to $50.71). CPP's ICER was similar to ICERs for Connect ($25.50) and COPE ($29.72), and less than ICERs for Incredible Years ($50.36) and Comet ($59.69). School-based CPP offered universally to parents of children transitioning to Kindergarten in extremely disadvantaged U.S. urban communities was found to offer relatively good value compared with similar parenting programs that are widely used in Europe.

Is There Anybody Out There? Young People from a Bucharest Deprived Neighbourhood in Search of Lost Echo. A photovoice exercise

This article explores in what way and to what extent the life of some teenagers from a disadvantaged urban community is affected by the relationship with formal institutions (school, town hall, police, social assistance, employers / labour market) and relationships with other members of the community (neighbours, friends, acquaintances). The first part of this title obviously refers to the famous song by Pink Floyd “Is there anybody out there?” (The Wall, 1979), but also to the song by Machine Head (2016) “Is Anybody Out There?”, the soloist of the band Rob Flynn saying that “The song is about love, loneliness, racism, and not getting what is going on in the world/America…It’s very much about current events, but applies to a bigger picture.“[1] The second part paraphrases Marcel Proust’s famous novel „In Search of Lost Time”, because the echo of the desires and needs of the young people we are talking about is not found in social policies and everyday realities. The participatory research took place within an illegal camp of recently evicted families, mostly Roma ethnics. Over 100 people (27 families) living in a yard of houses in Bucharest, were evicted on September 2014. The research team designed research using photovoice as a method, involving 10 youngsters from this community, focusing on topics like important things in their life; social relationships – group of friends / family; education; employment – future aspirations, the importance of education in finding a job; involvement / participation in community life. The main conclusion drove toward the fact that for (these) young people, the family is the cornerstone. All their values, dreams, aspirations and needs are gravitating around family and mostly in the absence of almost any effective institutional support. Although at the level of public and political discourse there is a declared interest in improving the situation of adolescents and young people (especially from disadvantaged social segments), included in various strategies, programs and projects and in the speeches of decision-makers and politicians, in reality “real life beats the written strategy”, the discord between the two practically leading to innovative adaptation and survival strategies … but marginal!

Simplified sewerage to prevent urban leptospirosis transmission: a cluster non-randomised controlled trial protocol in disadvantaged urban communities of Salvador, Brazil

IntroductionLeptospirosis is a globally distributed zoonotic and environmentally mediated disease that has emerged as a major health problem in urban slums in developing countries. Its aetiological agent is bacteria of...

Exploring key informants' perceptions of Covid-19 vaccine hesitancy in a disadvantaged urban community in Ireland: Emergence of a '4Cs' model.

The aim of this study was to explore key informants' views on and experiences with Covid-19 vaccine hesitancy in a Dublin community with a high concentration of economic and social disadvantage and to identify feasible, community-centred solutions for improving vaccination acceptance and uptake. Qualitative, semi-structured interviews were carried out at a local community-centre and a central hair salon. Twelve key informants from the target community were selected based on their professional experience with vulnerable population groups: the unemployed, adults in recovery from addiction, the elderly, and Irish Travellers. Inductive thematic framework analysis was conducted to identify emergent themes and sub-themes. Drivers of vaccine hesitancy identified by key informants largely fell under the WHO '3Cs' model of hesitancy: lack of confidence in the vaccine and its providers, complacency towards the health risks of Covid-19, and inconvenient access conditions. Covid-19 Communications emerged as a fourth 'C' whereby unclear and negative messages, confusing public health measures, and unmet expectations of the vaccine's effectiveness exacerbated anti-authority sentiments and vaccine scepticism during the pandemic. Community-specific solutions involve the provision of accurate and accessible information, collaborating with community-based organizations to build trust in the vaccine through relationship building and ongoing dialogue, and ensuring acceptable access conditions. The proposed Confidence, Complacency, Convenience, Covid-19 Communications ('4Cs') model provides a tool for considering vaccine hesitancy in disadvantaged urban communities reacting to the rapid development and distribution of a novel vaccine. The model and in-depth key informants' perspectives can be used to compliment equitable vaccination efforts currently underway by public health agencies and non-governmental organizations.

Sustainable transportation planning in the context of a socioeconomically disadvantaged urban community

Sustainable transportation planning in the context of a socioeconomically disadvantaged urban community

Process evaluation of a pragmatic implementation trial to support self-management for the prevention and management of type 2 diabetes in Uganda, South Africa and Sweden in the SMART2D project

IntroductionType 2 diabetes (T2D) and its complications are increasing rapidly. Support for healthy lifestyle and self-management is paramount, but not adequately implemented in health systems. Process evaluations facilitate understanding why...

The favela effect: Spatial inequalities and firm strategies in disadvantaged urban communities

AbstractResearch summaryE‐commerce firms make fewer products available and charge higher delivery prices to customers inside Brazilian favelas than they do to customers immediately outside favelas, despite the absence of infrastructure impediments at the favela borders. This phenomenological study uses mixed methods to investigate firm heterogeneity in these practices. The analysis shows that some firms treat favela consumers more equitably than their competitors. These firms (i) invest in physical stores inside and outside favelas, which are complementary to their online marketplaces, and (ii) engage genuinely with employees and consumers, which reflects their stakeholder orientation. By examining how firms operate in disadvantaged communities, scholars can enrich core theoretical constructs in strategic management, particularly by integrating insights from the fields of critical geography and urban economics.Managerial summaryThis study investigates whether firms operate differently in disadvantaged communities compared to co‐located nondisadvantaged areas. Findings show that operations in disadvantaged communities, such as favelas (Brazilian urban slums), demand specific investments that support transactions and contribute to realizing the underdeveloped potential of those communities. Firms succeed in commercial endeavors within disadvantaged communities by redeploying their resources and cultivating a stakeholder culture concomitantly. This strategy enables superior performance and the change‐making of structural inequalities to help alleviate poverty and develop urban communities.

‘What’s important to me is to get people moving.’ Fostering social resilience in people with severe debt problems

ABSTRACT Resilience is considered an important solution to problematic personal debt. European debt policy and research generally focuses on the financial resilience of individuals against life events that may generate debt problems. However, many studies overlook the social dimensions of resilience with regards to tackling problematic personal debt. In this article, we therefore explore the meaning and practices of fostering social resilience in people with severe debt problems, from the perspective of social workers, debt counsellors and volunteers working in a disadvantaged urban community in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. We conducted a case study and used qualitative research methods. The findings reveal that debt problems may lead to a state of inertia in people; an incapability to move, act on or change direction within a given situation. Social workers try to foster social resilience by generating a form of movement in this inert state, and by moving along with people as they work on their debt problems at their own pace and in their local environment. This endeavour involves three interactive practices: taking the lead, activating and connecting. We conclude that fostering resilience is less about tackling debt problems head-on, and more about nurturing positive change in people’s everyday lives and actions.

A mixed-method evaluation of video interaction guidance (VIG) delivered by early-years workers in a socially disadvantaged urban community

PurposeThe transition to parenthood can pose challenges for women and men, and these are heightened in the context of social disadvantage (e.g. poverty, deprivation, social exclusion, housing instability and disabilities). There is mounting evidence that video-feedback approaches can provide a valuable buffer against such adverse outcomes. This study aims to evaluate the acceptability and preliminary clinical impact of video interaction guidance (VIG), delivered by health visitors and community support workers in a socially disadvantaged London borough, selected due to its multiple indices of deprivation predicting child and maternal adversity.Design/methodology/approachThe study followed a non-randomised, before-and-after evaluation design. Health visitors and community support workers were trained in VIG delivery following the VIG Association-UK protocol. Families with infants under 12 months were conveniently recruited and received six weekly home-based sessions of VIG. The primary outcome was the acceptability of the intervention, assessing parents’ experiences using semi-structured interviews post-intervention. Clinical outcome measures were recorded pre-and post-intervention to yield preliminary evidence on intervention effectiveness.FindingsIn total, 23 families partook in the study, of which 19 completed the pre- and post-VIG quantitative analysis and 6 also completed the post-VIG qualitative interviews. Qualitative analyses documented high rates of acceptability and perceived improvement in family well-being. Preliminary outcome data indicated that completing the VIG intervention was associated with decreased parental anxiety and depression and increased parental confidence, parent-infant relationship quality, as well as an improvement in infant social and emotional development. However, the selective nature of convenience sampling limits the generalisability of the findings. The non-randomised design of the evaluation implies that findings can only be interpreted as preliminary evidence of intervention effectiveness. These considerations are addressed in the discussion.Originality/valueThe results of this study provide preliminary evidence of the acceptability and effectiveness of VIG delivery by health visitors and community support workers to new parents in socially disadvantaged urban communities. However, this study must be pursued further to be evaluated with larger, randomised samples to further explore the generalisability of VIG effectiveness in such settings.

Exploring Neighborhood Social Environment and Social Support in Baltimore

Abstract Intervention efforts include social support as a mechanism to promote well-being in diverse communities. Cultivating support can be complex, particularly in disadvantaged urban communities. This complexity is compounded by a lack of studies that attempt to map associations between urban neighborhood environments and social support exchanges. Authors address this gap by analyzing data from the Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity across the Life Span study (Wave 1, 2004–2009), a 20-year epidemiological investigation of African American and White adults living in Baltimore City. Results of ordinary least squares linear regression models (N = 2,002) indicate that individuals who report that their neighborhoods have more social resources (p = .03), social order (p < .001), social cohesion (p = .002), and social control (p = .001) tend to exchange more social support. Respondents in neighborhoods with more social disorder report providing more support (p = .02), but receive less (p = .004). Neighborhood social environment is more consistently associated with support received from friends or other kin compared with spouses and children. These findings suggest that neighborhood social environments may be a key contextual consideration for social work intervention efforts and indicate need for macro-level interventions to complement existing micro-level interventions.

The Pathway of University-Community Collaboration for Preventing Youth Violence

University-community collaboration has grown in popularity due to mutual benefits-university has an opportunity to attempt evidence-based programs while community resolves its emerging needs and problems. However, collaboration is a complex and challenging process because coalitions bring two different organizations and personnel to work together. Using the BRAVE youth violence prevention program as a case study, this study describes the pathway of developing university-community collaborative youth violence prevention program in poor and disadvantaged urban communities. In addition, this study explores significant facilitators and barriers that influence the collaboration process from its initiation to completion. Identified facilitators are agreed mutual benefits, trust relationship, mutual respect, shared power in decision-making, flexibility, and cultural competence while barriers are higher staff turnover, scarce agency space for program, and lack of adequate funding. Building on the lessons from this experience, this study provides core factors enhancing effective university-community collaboration.

If you built a sandbox: How children, network diversity, and community interventions are related to Google Fiber signup in disadvantaged urban communities

A decade after Google Fiber promised faster, cheaper internet connections in selected American cities, few studies have investigated its adoption, let alone in disadvantaged urban communities. Drawing on a household survey of public housing communities in Austin, Texas, a major Google Fiber city, we examine how relational, technological and community factors affect Google Fiber signup. Results show that community intervention combining digital inclusion programs and promotional neighborhood events was the most important contributor that elevated the likelihood of signing up for Google Fiber. Internet use, network diversity, expectations about the outcomes of digital inclusion programs, and having young children living in the household also significantly increased the likelihood of Google Fiber signing up. The findings have policy implications, highlighting the importance of coordinated efforts of the public, private, and non-profit sectors to engage underprivileged urban residents in a digital future through targeted community interventions.

Core Tech Support Networks and Digital Inequalities in American Disadvantaged Urban Communities

AbstractThis study originates the construct of core tech support networks to understand the most fundamental digital inequality issues that remain in disadvantaged communities. Beyond social inequalities, digital factors, and social capital, this study explores how three different characteristics of core tech support networks are related to digital inequalities, such as gaps in Internet use and basic digital skills. The results show that the overall size of core tech support networks and the better resources embedded in the networks can narrow gaps in Internet use and the presence of basic digital skills. However, they do not further improve the proficiency levels of basic digital skills. Core tech support networks’ composition based on tie strength is not related to inequalities in either Internet use or basic digital skills. This study provides both valuable theoretical and practical implications for digital inequalities and digital inclusion.

Energy and economic assessment of distributed renewable gas and electricity generation in a small disadvantaged urban community

A methodology for assessing the efficiency and economic viability of renewable gas generation and energy conversion to compliment residential PV is proposed and demonstrated for the 10,000 resident example community of Oak View in Huntington Beach, California. Renewable fuel production processes included in this work are (1) processing of community-produced organic fraction of municipal solid waste in an anaerobic digester, and (2) using solar generation paired with water electrolysis. Six pathways – three ending in natural gas pipeline injection and three ending in solid oxide fuel cell electricity production – were evaluated for each PV capacity scenario. The renewable fuel production potential based only upon waste from the studied community was determined to be 2400 MMBtu per year of renewable natural gas (RNG) from anaerobic digestion, and up to 28,500 MMBtu of hydrogen from electrolysis using only excess solar PV electricity. With current costs the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) for renewable fuel production is $40–203/MMBtu, depending upon the energy pathway and scale. The LCOE for renewable electricity production is $0.37–1.28/kWh. A combination of LCFS and tipping fees as low as $20 per ton can yield renewable fuel at $2 per MMBtu. Likewise, a tipping fee of $32 can lead to the production of renewable electricity at $0.18 per kWh. Using future costs, the unsubsidized cost of electricity can drop as low as $0.15 per kWh, and renewable fuel can be produced at $18 per MMBtu. If Low Carbon Fuel Credits exist in 2050, a tipping fee of less than $9 per ton can yield renewable fuel at $2 per MMBtu. On an energy basis, over 80% of the community electrical demand can be met through a combination of local solar PV, anaerobic digestion, and fuel cell operation (80% zero net electricity). In this scenario, solar PV meets 52% of the community electrical load, while excess solar production produces hydrogen that is passed through a fuel cell to meet 26% of the electrical load. The remaining 3% is met using RNG produced through anaerobic digestion using only organic waste from the studied community. This analysis indicates that the production of renewable fuel in the urban environment is currently not economically feasible but will become competitive with conventional energy in the future.

University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.

University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.

Association of human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C virus infection with long-term outcomes post-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction in a disadvantaged urban community

BackgroundHIV and HCV have been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Their impact on long-term outcomes following ST-segment myocardial infarction (STEMI) has not been previously studied. MethodsWe leveraged data from a STEMI registry (n = 1208) at an inner-city health system to assess the influence of HIV and HCV on post-STEMI outcomes. Cox regression was used to compare HIV-monoinfected (n = 22), HCV-monoinfected (n = 26) and HIV-HCV-coinfected patients (n = 8) with the neither-infected group (n = 1152) with regard to death, death or any readmission, and death or CVD readmission. ResultsThe cohort was majority black or Hispanic. Median follow-up was 4.3 years. Compared to the neither-infected group, the HIV-monoinfected group showed near-significantly higher risks of death or any readmission (HR = 1.62, 95% CI = 0.96, 2.74) and death or CVD readmission (HR = 1.82, 95% CI = 0.98, 3.39) after full adjustment. On similar comparison, the HCV-monoinfected group exhibited significantly higher risks of death (HR = 2.09, 95% CI = 1.05, 4.15) and death or any readmission (HR = 1.68, 95% CI = 1.07, 2.65), whereas the HIV-HCV-coinfected group showed higher risk of death (HR = 6.51, 95% CI = 2.28, 18.61). ConclusionsIn this cohort composed mostly of race-ethnic minorities, HIV monoinfection tended to be associated with 1.6-to-1.8-fold higher risk of death or readmission for any cause or CVD over long-term follow-up compared to neither infection, whereas HCV monoinfection was associated with 1.7-to-2.1-fold higher risk of death and death or any readmission, and HIV-HCV coinfection with 6.5-fold higher risk of death. These associations require further study in larger populations, but highlight the importance of identifying and treating HIV and HCV in patients presenting with STEMI.

Urban regeneration and the mental health and well-being challenge: In support of evidence-based policy

The rising attention given to mental health and well-being in urban policy, urban regeneration projects and place-making practices has led to an increase in the production of a supporting research evidence base. This paper presents a reflective review of a subset of this research, that which focuses upon urban mental health and well-being as they unfold in the context of relatively disadvantaged urban communities in the UK. Particular attention is given to research which interrogates the role played by the meaningful involvement of communities in decision making in cultivating good mental health. The paper concludes by identifying where evidence gaps still exist and where the evidence base might be improved.