Critical Perspectives on Planning for Health

Aim

On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• describe different definitions of health, and their relevance to planning for health
• describe and discuss key theoretical perspectives about socio-material space, and how such perspectives matter to health, both on individual and societal levels
• identify and examine issues of accessibility and equality in planning for health in different international contexts
• critically analyse socio-material space in relation to different understandings of health and equality, and demonstrate how such analyses can be incorporated into planning for health

Content

Urban and regional planning is also a matter of public health. This course critically investigates the key importance of socio-material space for health. It also highlights the relations between planning interventions and health on individual and societal levels. It provides several perspectives on how health is distributed in society and how health can be affected, keeping in mind different definitions of health and well-being. Special attention is given to how planning for health matters to social justice, and how the built and lived environment can be seen to fit some individuals but exclude others.