Spatial Analysis Assessing the Impact of Neighbourhood on Women’s Health: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Since 2000, the effect of neighbourhoods on the health of people has emerged as a pertinent domain of research in public health. Nevertheless, to comprehend neighbourhood’s influence on health, it becomes imperative to understand whether these impacts are heterogeneous among varying sociodemographic attributes such as gender. Since gender roles are often influenced by the residential environment’s characteristics, especially for women. Thus, this article provides a spatial analysis examining the impact of neighbourhood on women’s health through a systematic review of literature. Overall, 59 studies were reviewed using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). From these studies, it can be contended that improved physical and social characteristics of the neighbourhoods lead to good physical and mental health status among women in that area. However, the review suggests that most of the studies focusing on neighbourhood and health of women are concentrated in the USA, while very few are in developing countries and none in India. Also, the studies have not prioritised women specifically in the reproductive health group, which is an important sub-group of the population, suggesting it to be a potential area for future research.