Grant: Team Grant: Environments and Health: Intersectoral Prevention Research

At the end of the 19th century, confronted by epidemics of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis or gastroenteritis, public health authorities began collaborating with municipalities to improve urban environments. Major works were undertaken to install drains and eliminate unhealthy housing, notably by prohibiting dwelling units in basements and windowless rooms. These efforts were very successful as infectious disease rates decreased and did so well before the advent of antibiotics. Initially in developed countries and now in developing nations, there have been major increases in chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and several cancers. At the beginning of the 21st century, to counter these threats to population health, Public Health Departments have forged new alliances with major Canadian cities. Together, they are working to create environments that foster the supply of healthy and affordable food, enhance active transportation, and reduce the risks of bad housing conditions. Our research program aims to study these cross-sector partnerships, which involve collaborations between health practitioners, municipalities, representatives from civil society, housing authorities, and actors from other sectors. We will study partnerships aimed at transforming built environments to increase the availability of fruit and vegetables, promote public transport and physical activity, and improve availability of affordable housing. We will also look into how these partnerships take into account social and gender inequalities and pay special attention to children and youth. To carry out these studies and make comparisons, we will rely on the active participation of the Directors of the Public Health Organizations in Montreal, Saskatoon, Toronto, and Vancouver. Ultimately, we will identify the factors that lead to success in forward-looking initiatives aimed at preventing the new epidemics of chronic diseases.