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Knowledge and experiences of violence transform the ways in which individuals perceive the urban landscape, construct and reproduce (un)safety, and make everyday decisions regarding mobility and the use of space. This knowledge and these experiences are placially anchored and are shaped by everyday regionalisations. In the context of interpersonal violence in Recife, Brazil, we examine the ways in which volunteered geographic information (VGI), formal and informal information exchange networks, and individual experience contribute to the reproduction of violent spaces. During interviews with civilian residents and police officers, we explore the knowledge and information flows and their spatial anchorings before and after presenting informants with a VGI-based map of firearms violence. Following coding, interviews were also analysed using a novel, semiautomated text mining algorithm to produce context-sensitive co-occurrence graphs of key arguments within participant narratives. The results indicate strong differences in the placial anchorings between police officers and civilians, and highlight key dynamics in the flows of VGI amongst residents and local news organisations, as well as through social media. These forms of placial knowledge exchange are in constant negotiation with individuals' perceptions and experiences of the study area and reflect cognitive-discursive reproductions of everyday geographies of (un)safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Climate change has increased the severity, intensity, and frequency of extreme hot weather events over the past century (Meehl and Tebaldi 2004; Reid et al. 2009). Many of these [...], BACKGROUND: Climate change has increased the frequency and intensity of extremely hot weather. The health risks associated with extemely hot weather are not uniform across affected areas owing to variability in heat exposure and social vulnerability, but these differences are challenging to map with precision. OBJECTIVES: We developed a spatially and temporally stratified case-crossover approach for delineation of areas with higher and lower risks of mortality on extremely hot days and applied this approach in greater Vancouver, Canada. METHODS: Records of all deaths with an extremely hot day as a case day or a control day were extracted from an administrative vital statistics database spanning the years of 1998--2014. Three heat exposure and 11 social vulnerability variables were assigned at the residential location of each decedent. Conditional logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratio for a 1°C increase in daily mean temperature at a fixed site with an interaction term for decedents living above and below different values of the spatial variables. RESULTS: The heat exposure and social vulnerability variables with the strongest spatially stratified results were the apparent temperature and the labor nonparticipation rate, respectively. Areas at higher risk had values ≥ 34.4°C for the maximum apparent temperature and [greater than or equal to] 60% of the population neither employed nor looking for work. These variables were combined in a composite index to quantify their interaction and to enhance visualization of high-risk areas. CONCLUSIONS: Our methods provide a data-driven framework for spatial delineation of the temperature--mortality relationship by heat exposure and social vulnerability. The results can be used to map and target the most vulnerable areas for public health intervention. http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1289/EHP224.

Homicide presents a significant health burden globally, but geographical differences in homicide rates necessitate focussed analyses of spatial and temporal patterns, particularly in affected areas. The highest rates are concentrated in regions in Central and South America, but analyses of sub-regional patterns and sex-specific differences may yield important information for addressing the upstream causes of homicide at the community level. This study examines and presents spatial and temporal patterns of homicide victims from 2006 to 2015 in the state of Alagoas, Brazil, focussing on the municipality scale and differentiated by victims' sex. Data comprising victims' age, sex, the date, time, and the municipality of the homicide incident were acquired from the Brazilian National Mortality Information System. These data were aggregated by municipality, and we made quantitative comparisons of sex-specific homicide rates between the capital city of Macieó metropolitan region and the peripheral, predominantly rural regions. Empirical Local Bayes methods were used to adjust per-capita homicide risk estimates and map the results. A total of 19,560 homicides occurred during the study period, with an average of 60.4 per 100,000 inhabitants; the metropolitan region rate was 81.8, compared to 46.5 for the remaining regions. The male homicide rate was 115.9 per 100,000, compared to 7.1 for females. Empirical Local Bayes mapping showed strong clustering of male homicide risk in specific cities near the capital, while female risk was more dispersed throughout the region. The risk of male victim homicide observed for the metropolitan region of Alagoas was amongst the highest globally, particularly during the period 2012–2014. Geographical differences in male and female risk may indicate differences in risk factors and highlight a need for prevention programmes that take into account gender-specific pathways of violence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individual socioeconomic status is known to correlate with multimorbidity, but the role of neighbourhood-level socioeconomic deprivation is uncertain. Participants from five cities (n=16,313) from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging were mapped by postal code and their local area socioeconomic deprivation scores were calculated using the Vancouver Area Neighbourhood Deprivation Index. Logistic regression models were used to estimate deprivation-associated odds of multimorbidity, controlling for age, sex, obesity, alcohol consumption, and tobacco use, and validated using a Bayesian machine learning technique. Significant associations with neighbourhood deprivation were observed, underscoring the importance of a person's local socioeconomic environment in multimorbidity risk, net of key covariates. The implications of the results are discussed in terms of community and health care organization and intervention programs targeting multimorbidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to identify the association between the food environment and obesity.Methods: BMI and waist circumference (WC) were measured in 8,076 participants from three cities. The number of fast-food restaurants, full-service restaurants, bars/pubs, markets, and liquor stores within 500 m of each participant was documented. The association between the food environment (ratio of fast-food to full-service restaurants, ratio of bars/pubs to liquor stores, and presence of markets) with obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 ) and abdominal obesity (WC ≥ 102 cm for males or WC ≥ 88 cm for females) was investigated, adjusted for age, sex, education level, neighborhood deprivation, neighborhood type, and total hours per week of walking and taking into account city-level clustering.Results: The ratios of fast-food to full-service restaurants and of bars/pubs to liquor stores were positively associated with obesity (OR = 1.05 [CI: 1.02-1.09] and OR = 1.08 [CI: 1.04-1.13], respectively). The ratio of bars/pubs to liquor stores was positively associated with abdominal obesity (OR = 1.10 [CI: 1.05-1.14]). There was no association between markets and either obesity or abdominal obesity.Conclusions: Features of the food environment have varying associations with obesity. These features have an additive effect, and future studies should not focus on only one feature in isolation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Residential care and assisted living services provide support to seniors who may not have the ability to live independently. However, East Asian residents often do not have sufficient access to culturally specific activities, which may result in psychosocial stress and isolation. This study presents a geographic analysis method to evaluate spatial distribution of culturally tailored senior care facilities in Metro Vancouver. We identify geographical disparities, indicating that many East Asian seniors have poor local access to a culturally tailored facility. We recommend the use of geographical analysis techniques to improve the analysis and planning for senior care in an increasingly diverse population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores both epidemiological and spatial characteristics of domestic and community interpersonal violence. We evaluated three years of violent trauma data in the medium-sized city of Campina Grande in North-Eastern Brazil. 3559 medical and police records were analysed and 2563 cases were included to identify socioeconomic and geographic patterns. The associations between sociodemographic, temporal, and incident characteristics and domestic violence were evaluated using logistic regression. Using Geographical Information Systems (GIS), we mapped victims’ household addresses to identify spatial patterns. We observed a higher incidence of domestic violence among female, divorced, or co-habitant persons when the violent event was perpetrated by males. There was only a minor chance of occurrence of domestic violence involving firearms. 8 out of 10 victims of domestic violence were women and the female/male ratio was 3.3 times greater than that of community violence (violence not occurring in the home). Unmarried couples were twice as likely to have a victim in the family unit (OR = 2.03), compared to married couples. Seven geographical hotspots were identified. The greatest density of hotspots was found in the East side of the study area and was spatially coincident with the lowest average family income. Aggressor sex, marital status, and mechanism of injury were most associated with domestic violence, and low-income neighbourhoods were coincident with both domestic and non-domestic violence hotspots. These results provide further evidence that economic poverty may play a significant role in interpersonal, and particularly domestic violence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air pollution is a major risk factor for death and disease, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) where concentrations are relatively high and large populations are exposed. High-quality exposure assessment is integral to both air pollution epidemiologic studies and impact assessments. Land use regression (LUR) modelling is a powerful exposure assessment technique that uses the relationships between air pollution concentrations at discrete monitoring locations and the surrounding characteristics of those locations to model small-scale spatial concentration gradients within cities. Regardless of whether they are calibrated based on local measurements or transferred from another location, LUR models require spatially resolved data on predictor variables that may be unavailable or of insufficient quality in many settings. We describe methods for deriving LUR model predictors, including land cover, road locations, and ger (Mongolian yurt) locations, from satellite data and high-resolution imagery in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. These methods may allow LUR models to be developed for more locations in LMIC, potentially improving the quality of air pollution exposure assessments in those settings. Survol des méthodes pour dégager des variables explicatives de la pollution atmosphérique dans un modèle de régression de l'utilisation du sol à partir de données de télédétection à Oulan-Bator, Mongolie La pollution atmosphérique est un facteur de risque important de mortalité et de morbidité, en particulier dans les pays à revenu faible et intermédiaire (PFR-PRI) marqués par des concentrations relativement élevées auxquelles de nombreuses populations sont exposées. Une évaluation de haute qualité de l'exposition est indispensable pour les études épidémiologiques de la pollution atmosphérique et les études d'impact. La modélisation de l'utilisation du sol par régression constitue un procédé d'évaluation de l'exposition performant fondé sur les liens entre les concentrations de pollution atmosphérique à des stations de surveillance et les attributs particuliers de ces emplacements afin de modéliser les gradients locaux de concentration dans les villes. Peu importe que le calibrage des modèles de régression de l'utilisation du sol soit effectué avec des mesures locales ou soit transposé d'un autre site, ils requièrent des données spatiales fiables des variables explicatives qui peuvent néanmoins être manquantes ou de faible qualité dans plusieurs contextes. Nous présentons un survol des méthodes permettant de dégager des indicateurs d'un modèle de régression de l'utilisation du sol, y compris la couverture du sol, l'emplacement des voies, et les localisations des ger (yourte mongole), à partir de données satellitaires et d'images de haute résolution à Oulan-Bator, Mongolie. Ces méthodes permettent d'élaborer des modèles de régression de l'utilisation du sol pour d'autres localités dans les PFR-PRI afin d'améliorer la qualité des évaluations de l'exposition à la pollution atmosphérique dans ces contextes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Many factors contribute to socioeconomic status (SES), yet in most survival studies only income is used as a measure for determining SES. We used a complex, composite, census-based metric for socioeconomic deprivation to better distinguish individuals with lower SES and assess its impact on survival and staging trends of oral cancers.Methods: Oropharyngeal (OPC) and oral cavity cancer (OCC) cases were identified from the British Columbia cancer registry between 1981-2009 and placed into affluent and deprived neighborhoods using postal codes linked to VANDIX (a composite SES index based on 7 census variables encompassing income, housing, family structure, education, and employment). Stage and cancer-specific survival rates were examined by sex, SES, and time period.Results: Approximately 50 % of OPC and OCC cases of both sexes resided in SES deprived neighborhoods. Numbers of cases have increased in recent years for all but OCC in men. The deprivation gap in survival between affluent and deprived neighborhoods widened in recent years for OPC and OCC in men, while decreasing for OPC and increasing slightly for OCC in women. Greater proportions of OCC cases were diagnosed at later stage disease for both sexes residing in deprived neighborhoods, a trend not seen for OPC.Conclusion: SES remains a significant independent determinant of survival for both OPC and OCC when using a composite metric for SES. OPC survival rates among men have improved, albeit at slower rates in deprived communities. OCC screening programs need to be targeted towards SES-deprived neighborhoods where greater proportions of cases were diagnosed at a later stage and survival rates have significantly worsened in both sexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graffiti is a ubiquitous feature of the urban landscape commonly perceived to be a symptom of disorder, deprivation, and violence. Broken windows theory asserts that it is also a cause. To examine this, we conduct a geographic correlation study of graffiti and violence using geographic information systems. A strong spatial covariation is observed, with spatially dependent residual clusters suggesting that the graffiti–violence relationship is context dependent and varied. Ferrell and Weide's spot theory provides a lens for situating hot spots and facilitating a more nuanced interrogation of graffiti and violence in several Vancouver neighborhoods. We advocate for situated spatial analyses of interpersonal violence to inform public health interventions and advance policymaking beyond the popular aesthetic symbolism of urban space. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: Recent studies have demonstrated an elevated risk of oral cavity cancers (OCC) among socioeconomically deprived populations, whose increasing presence in suburban neighbourhoods poses unique challenges for equitable health service delivery. The majority of studies to date have utilised aspatial methods to identify OCC. In this study, we use high-resolution geographical analyses to identify spatio-temporal trends in OCC incidence, emphasising the value of geospatial methods for public health research. Methods: Using province-wide population incidence data from the British Columbia Cancer Registry (1981-2009, N = 5473), we classify OCC cases by census-derived neighbourhood types to differentiate between urban, suburban, and rural residents at the time of diagnosis. We map geographical concentrations by decade and contrast trends in age-adjusted incidence rates, comparing the results to an index of socioeconomic deprivation. Results: Suburban cases were found to comprise a growing proportion of OCC incidence. In effect, OCC concentrations have dispersed from dense urban cores to suburban neighbourhoods in recent decades. Significantly higher age-adjusted oral cancer incidence rates are observed in suburban neighbourhoods from 2006 to 2009, accompanied by rising socioeconomic deprivation in those areas. New suburban concentrations of incidence were found in neighbourhoods with a high proportion of persons aged 65+ and/or born in India, China, or Taiwan. Conclusions: While the aging of suburban populations provides some explanation of these trends, we highlight the role of the suburbanisation of socioeconomically deprived and Asia-born populations, known to have higher rates of risk behaviours such as tobacco, alcohol, and betel/areca consumption. Specifically, betel/areca consumption among Asia-born populations is suspected to be a primary driver of the observed geographical shift in incidence from urban cores to suburban neighbourhoods. We suggest that such geographically-informed findings are complementary to potential and existing place-specific cancer control policy and targeting prevention efforts for high-risk sub-populations, and call for the supplementation of epidemiological studies with high-resolution mapping and geospatial analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Oral cancer is an important health issue, with changing incidence in many countries. Oropharyngeal cancer (OPC, in tonsil and oropharygeal areas) is increasing, while oral cavity cancer (OCC, other sites in the mouth) is decreasing. There is the need to identify high risk groups and communities for further study and intervention. The objective of this study was to determine how the incidence of OPC and OCC varied by neighbourhood socioeconomic status (SES) in British Columbia (BC), including the magnitude of any inequalities and temporal trends. Methods: ICDO-3 codes were used to identify OPC and OCC cases in the BC Cancer Registry from 1981-2010. Cases were categorized by postal codes into SES quintiles (q1-q5) using VANDIX, which is a census-based, multivariate weighted index based on neighbourhood average household income, housing tenure, educational attainment, employment and family structure. Age-standardized incidence rates were determined for OPC and OCC by sex and SES quintiles and temporal trends were then examined. Results: Incidence rates are increasing in both men and women for OPC, and decreasing in men and increasing in women for OCC. This change is not linear or proportionate between different SES quintiles, for there is a sharp and dramatic increase in incidence according to the deprivation status of the neighbourhood. The highest incidence rates in men for both OPC and OCC were observed in the most deprived SES quintile (q5), at 1.7 times and 2.2 times higher, respectively, than men in the least deprived quintile (q1). For OPC, the age-adjusted incidence rates significantly increased in all SES quintiles with the highest increase observed in the most deprived quintile (q5). Likewise, the highest incidence rates for both OPC and OCC in women were observed in the most deprived SES quintile (q5), at 2.1 times and 1.8 times higher, respectively, than women in the least deprived quintile (q1). Conclusion: We report on SES disparities in oral cancer, emphasizing the need for community-based interventions that address access to medical care and the distribution of educational and health promotion resources among the most SES deprived communities in British Columbia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In 2002, the WHO declared interpersonal violence to be a leading public health problem. Previous research demonstrates that urban spaces with a high incidence of violent trauma (hotspots) correlate with features of built environment and social determinants. However, there are few studies that analyse injury data across the axes of both space and time to characterise injury-environment relationships. This paper describes a spatiotemporal analysis of violent injuries in Vancouver, Canada, from 2001 to 2008. Methods: Using geographic information systems, 575 violent trauma incidents were mapped and analysed using kernel density estimation to identify hotspot locations. Patterns between space, time, victim age and sex and mechanism of injury were investigated with an exploratory approach. Results: Several patterns in space and time were identified and described, corresponding to distinct neighbourhood characteristics. Violent trauma hotspots were most prevalent in Vancouver's nightclub district on Friday and Saturday nights, with higher rates in the most socioeconomically deprived neighbourhoods. Victim sex, age and mechanism of injury also formed strong patterns. Three neighbourhood profiles are presented using the dual axis of space/time to describe the hotspot environments. Conclusions: This work posits the value of exploratory spatial data analysis using geographic information systems in trauma epidemiology studies and further suggests that using both space and time concurrently to understand urban environmental correlates of injury provides a more granular or higher resolution picture of risk. We discuss implications for injury prevention and control, focusing on education, regulation, the built environment and injury surveillance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The participatory Geoweb emerges from the synthesis of map-based online applications and Web 2.0 concepts such as user-generated content, enhanced interactivity, and cloud computing. The result is a wide range of tools and projects using these tools to communicate, collaborate, deliberate, and inform spatial decision making. This article draws upon the literature in participatory geographic information systems to propose the "3E Framework," which provides both a structured conceptual model and a practical tool for the evaluation of projects on the participatory Geoweb. The framework deconstructs participation on the Geoweb into the provider and public realms and represents the engagement, empowerment, and enactment processes. It includes 20 evaluation questions that are derived from themes in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses various reports within the issue on topics including geographical zoonoses, environmental justice and geographical variations in spatial access to dental care.

Environmental deprivation significantly influences urban livability. Previous studies applied spatial data to evaluate environmental deprivation across various neighborhoods, and the identified deprived areas can be directly used in urban planning as areas that need to be addressed. However, perceptions of oneself regarding the local urban environment can influence sense of wellbeing, mental health, and social behavior of this individual; and any adverse feelings from the subjective environmental status can further influence perceived environmental deprivation. This perceived environmental deprivation can be different from the estimation of "objective" environmental deprivation, and perception itself can vary among subpopulations. Absence of consideration of variation in perceived environmental deprivation can lead to a failure of sustainable planning to support all oppressed people affected by urban development. Therefore, we combined citizens' perceptions with remote-sensed and administrative data to characterize perceived environmental deprivation among subpopulations, based on a questionnaire with ranks of specific environmental issues under a "city as a whole" concept. Generally, perceived environmental deprivation among subpopulations was driven by different facts. Based on the spatial comparison, self-identified urban residents and people aged>=30 have faced higher environmental deprivation across the whole city than self-identified rural residents and younger ages. Females, lower income population, and indoor workers have faced with higher environmental deprivation across urban areas than males and higher income population and outdoor workers. These implied that perceived environmental deprivation may be driven by social behaviors of individuals because of social inequality, while planning protocols should be targeted to specific populations to provide comprehensive community support and equity. • "City as a whole" concept to estimate accumulation of environmental experiences. • Subjective (self-rated) data with objective (spatial) data to estimate deprivation. • Urban residents and aged>=30: high environmental deprivation across the whole city. • Females, low income, indoor workers: high environmental deprivation across urban area. • Perceived environmental deprivation driven by social behaviors of local population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid urban expansion is a significant contributor to land cover change and poses a challenge to environmental sustainability, particularly in less developed countries. Insufficient data about urban expansion hinders effective land use planning. Therefore, a high need to collect, process, and disseminate land cover data exists. This study focuses on urban land cover change detection using Geographic Information Systems and remote sensing methods to produce baseline information in support for land use planning. We applied a supervised classification of land cover of LANDSAT data from 1987, 2002, and 2017. We mapped land cover transitions from 1987 to 2017 and computed the net land cover change during this time. Finally, we analyzed the mismatches between the past and current urban land cover and land use plans and quantified the non-urban development area lost to urban/built-up. Our results indicated an increase in urban/built-up and bare land cover types, while vegetation land cover decreased. We observed mismatches between past/current land cover and the existing land use plan. By providing detailed insights into mismatches between the regional land use plan and unregulated urban expansion, this study provides important information for a critical debate on the role and effectiveness of land use planning for environmental sustainability and sustainable urban development, particularly in less developed countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Injury is a truly global health issue that has enormous societal and economic consequences in all countries. Interpersonal violence is now widely recognized as important global public health issues that can be addressed through evidence-based interventions. In South Africa, as in many low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), a lack of ongoing, systematic injury surveillance has limited the ability to characterize the burden of violence-related injury and to develop prevention programmes. To describe the profile of trauma presenting to the trauma centre of Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa – relating to interpersonal violence, using data collected from a newly implemented surveillance system. Particular emphasis was placed on temporal aspects of injury epidemiology, as well as age and sex differentiation. Data were collected prospectively using a standardized trauma admissions form for all patients presenting to the trauma centre. An epidemiological analysis was conducted on 16 months of data collected from June 2010 to October 2011. A total of 8445 patients were included in the analysis, in which the majority were violence-related. Specifically, 35% of records included violent trauma and, of those, 75% of victims were male. There was a clear temporal pattern: a greater proportion of intentional injuries occur during the night, while unintentional injury peaks late in the afternoon. In total, two-third of all intentional trauma is inflicted on the weekends, as is 60% of unintentional trauma. Where alcohol was recorded in the record, 72% of cases involved intentional injury. Sex was again a key factor as over 80% of all records involving alcohol or substance abuse were associated with males. The findings highlighted the association between violence, young males, substance use, and weekends. This study provides the basis for evidence-based interventions to reduce the burden of intentional injury. Furthermore, it demonstrates the value of locally appropriate, ongoing, systematic public health surveillance in LMIC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The World Health Organization (2002) attributes over 1.6 million deaths annually to interpersonal violence. This public health challenge is inherently geographic in nature, as previous studies have confirmed spatial-temporal clustering of violent injuries within urban environments. This research uses trauma registry data to identify violent injury hotspots in Vancouver, British Columbia. Teams were dispatched to scan each hotspot for suspected environmental correlates identified in the literature (e.g., alcohol-serving establishments). Several key features of the built urban environment are found to be significant predictors of violent injury. Additionally, the Vancouver Area Neighbourhood Deprivation Index is used to examine the correlation of a socio-economic status with violent injury in the urban setting. The findings demonstrate that the environment-injury relationship is multiscalar and spatially complex, and helps challenge the notion that injury is a random occurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Both socioeconomic status and travel time to cancer treatment have been associated with treatment choice and patient outcomes. An improved understanding of the relationship between these two dimensions of access may enable cancer control experts to better target patients with poor access, particularly in isolated suburban and rural communities., Methods: Using geographical information systems, head and neck cancer patients across British Columbia, Canada from 1981 to 2009, were mapped and their travel times to the nearest treatment center at their time of diagnosis were modelled. Patients' travel times were analysed by urban, suburban, and rural neighborhood types and an index of multiple socioeconomic deprivation was used to assess the role of socioeconomic status in patients' spatial access., Results: Significant associations between socioeconomic deprivation and spatial access to treatment were identified, with the most deprived quintiles of patients experiencing nearly twice the travel time as the least deprived quintile. The sharpest disparities were observed among the most deprived patient populations in suburban and rural areas. However, the establishment of new treatment centers has decreased overall travel times by 28% in recent decades., Conclusions: Residence in a neighborhood with high socioeconomic deprivation is strongly associated with head and neck cancer patients' spatial access to cancer treatment centers. Patients residing in the most socioeconomically deprived neighborhoods consistently have longer travel times in urban, suburban, and rural communities in the study area.