Spatial Planning of Green Space as a Local Intervention Aimed at Tackling Social Health Inequalities: Adverse Pregnancy Issues

Spatial Planning of Green Space as a Local Intervention Aimed at Tackling Social Health Inequalities: Adverse Pregnancy Issues

Empirical support for the potential of green space to play a role in reducing the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes (including infant mortality) has now been documented. Uneven proximity and/ or access to green space thus contribute to health inequalities. Therefore, each intervention or strategy performed by local policy and aimed at promoting universal access to (and/or use of) green space regardless of social group could promote birth health - and thus tackle social health inequalities. To orient local programs or initiatives targeting health inequalities by acting on the equitable distribution of green spaces, today’s geospatial tools may be of assistance to the policy maker. Our above discussion describes the evidence of the health benefit of urban green space, and how this factor contributes to health inequalities in pregnancy issues. Given that birth health is recognized as a key indicator of the health status of a population as well as a predictor of long-term outcomes, this suggestive evidence should encourage the planning and evaluation of local green space intervention aimed at promoting health and tackling health inequalities.