Barriers to integration of health and equity into urban design policies in Regina, Saskatchewan.
Akram Mahani, Joonsoo Sean Lyeo, Agnes Fung, Kelly Husack, Nazeem Muhajarine, Tania Diener, Chelsea Brown
Author Information
Akram Mahani: Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy (JSGS), University of Regina, 2155 College Ave., Regina, Saskatchewan S4P 4V5, Canada. ORCID
Joonsoo Sean Lyeo: Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy (JSGS), University of Regina, 2155 College Ave., Regina, Saskatchewan S4P 4V5, Canada.
Agnes Fung: Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, 155 College St., Toronto, Ontario M5T 3M7, Canada.
Kelly Husack: City of Regina, Community Well-being Branch, 2476 Victoria Ave., Regina, Saskatchewan S4P 3C8, Canada.
Nazeem Muhajarine: Saskatchewan Population Health and Evaluation Research Unit (SPHERU), University of Regina and University of Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Tania Diener: Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, College of Medicine, E wing - Health Sciences 104 Clinic Place, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N-2Z4, Canada.
Chelsea Brown: Population Health, Saskatchewan Health Authority, 2110 Hamilton St., Regina, Saskatchewan S4P2E3, Canada.
Although there is extensive literature on the impact of urban design on health, little is known about the barriers to integrating health into urban design policies. As cities increasingly lead efforts to improve health equity and population health, understanding the perspectives and experiences of municipal actors on health and equity is essential. To address this gap, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 30 stakeholders engaged with urban design policy- and decision-making at the City of Regina in Saskatchewan, Canada. We analysed our data using a qualitative thematic framework. Our research uncovered a lack of shared understanding of health among municipal actors. Interviewees identified several barriers to integrating health and equity in urban design policies, including inaccessibility of evidence; insufficient resourcing; fragmented governance structure; limited legal power of local governments in Canada; a deeply ingrained culture of individualism and lack of representation. Our findings underscore the importance of adopting an integrated and holistic approach for healthy and equitable urban design. As urbanization continues to bring a greater share of the world's population into urban areas, it is crucial to understand how municipal governance can foster environments that promote residents' well-being.
