Public health policy and practice – Page 4

Natural experiments in urban air quality in Rwanda

April 12, 2026

To understand the current drivers of air pollution, we used two natural experiments (Car-Free Day and COVID-19 Lockdown) to examine their impact on air pollution using particulate matter air pollution data in Kigali City. The health impact of non-motorized transport events in Kigali, known as ‘Car-Free Days,’ goes beyond just mass physical exercise. Importantly, it has reduced air pollution by 15%, this is expected to save more than 200 disability-adjusted life years annually.

Institutional inertia in a model capital: Environmental health indicators and fragmented urban governance in Islamabad

April 9, 2026

Unregulated urbanization in Islamabad fuels flooding and health risks like dengue, revealing gaps in environmental health integration. Our study’s insights urge planners to prioritize equitable, health-focused urban policies.

Comparing 30 km/h speed limits in Canada and Australia: Lessons in implementation

April 2, 2026

This study provides critical insights into the complexity of implementing 30 km/h speeds, and opportunities to enhance systems to catalyse change.

SOOPEN: A new tool to capture children´s group play behaviour in urban settings

March 29, 2026

The System for Observing Outdoor Play Environments in Neighborhood Schools (SOOPEN) is a new systematic observation tool to assess children´s play behavior. SOOPEN uses a novel group dynamics approach. The tool has good reliability and is accompanied by a user-friendly protocol.

Health Impact Assessment and urban development; how can they be made more effective?

March 26, 2026

Health is rarely prioritized in urban decision making. Requiring Health Impact Assessment obliges developers to focus on questions of health. Some local authorities require this, but not all. This is the first paper to undertake a comprehensive review of when and where Health Impact Assessment is required in England, and to set out ways to make the process more effective.

Food insecurity and health gaps within Staten Island’s neighborhoods, New York

March 26, 2026

Even within relatively wealthy cities, food insecurity and health inequalities can be sharply concentrated in specific neighborhoods. We show how economic inequality, food access, and health outcomes are closely linked across Staten Island — and what this means for city leaders and practitioners.

From lockdowns to recovery: COVID-19’s lasting impact on cities

March 17, 2026

Before COVID-19, we freely used lively streets and public spaces. The pandemic emptied them and changed how people perceived urban life. Places once full of joy became empty and fearful. Our study examines COVID-19’s impact on three key dimensions of urban design and offers lessons for building healthier, more resilient cities.

Informal public space use for leisure-time physical activity in Lagos and Yaoundé

March 15, 2026

Our study explores how residents in Lagos and Yaoundé use roads, vacant lots, squares, and parks for running, walking, and other leisure-time physical activities. It reveals striking sex-based differences in perceived safety and risk, offering evidence to guide inclusive urban planning.

Manageable slices through the city: walkable space supporting mobile, democratic and dynamic clinics

March 13, 2026

Mental health needs are poorly understood in the development and management of public space. However, people recovering from health issues such as psychosis need to use city space in their everyday lives. We note that large sites in city centres continue to be made available. As such their redesign and management needs to factor in these broader needs. There will be further benefits to people with conditions such as anxiety, depression and autism.

Designing pedestrian-friendly urban spaces in specific cultural and geographic contexts

March 6, 2026

This study addresses the need for a more nuanced understanding of how urban design influences people’s walking habits in the Global South through case studies in Indonesia. Understanding the intriguing relationship between the built environment, personal perception, and walking behaviour is critical for designing more walkable, healthy, and sustainable cities.

Natural experiments in urban air quality in Rwanda

Institutional inertia in a model capital: Environmental health indicators and fragmented urban governance in Islamabad

Comparing 30 km/h speed limits in Canada and Australia: Lessons in implementation

SOOPEN: A new tool to capture children´s group play behaviour in urban settings

Health Impact Assessment and urban development; how can they be made more effective?

Food insecurity and health gaps within Staten Island’s neighborhoods, New York

From lockdowns to recovery: COVID-19’s lasting impact on cities

Informal public space use for leisure-time physical activity in Lagos and Yaoundé

Manageable slices through the city: walkable space supporting mobile, democratic and dynamic clinics

Designing pedestrian-friendly urban spaces in specific cultural and geographic contexts

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