Healthy Cities Network Research Articles

The Potential of Cognitive Mapping in Planning Health Provision

The World Health Organization′s project “Health for All in 2000” sets levels for future health care and provision for member states. In the UK a Healthy Cities Network has been established and many towns and cities are actively considering ways of working towards attaining these levels. This involves a number of different organizations and agencies working together to build models showing all the factors and relationships which affect the health of a community. The study aims to assess the potential of cognitive mapping techniques in providing not only a consensus view, but also a better understanding of those factors and relationships.

Healthy cities, healthy participation

THIS paper outlines some of the issues and imper atives in community participation, one of the WHO Health for All principles, with particular reference to the Healthy Cities Network in the UK. It focuses on key issues in participation as part of health promo tion, examining why participation is important and the degree of participation that exists, the involve ment of black and ethnic minority groups, and exist ing expertise in the community health movement. A number of dilemmas within participation are dis cussed, including professionalisation versus the need to value citizens's skills and knowledge, and encouraging participation by those experiencing disadvantage.