Research area
Disadvantaged neighbourhoods are high-risk areas for developing type 2 diabetes and other chronic diseases. This is because residents in disadvantaged neighbourhoods often have limited resources to healthy living. The socio-economic status in disadvantaged neighbourhoods in terms of education, employment and income levels are considerably lower than elsewhere. On the other hand, there are numerous resources embedded in disadvantaged neighbourhoods in terms of social networks, creativity, experience, time and commitment, which may be mobilised to promote health and social development.
Team Citizens and Sustainable Cities engages with professional stakeholders and citizens to mobilise such resources with a view to establish safe settings, social networks and healthy lifestyles among citizens in disadvantaged neighbourhoods. The team researches these processes and develops approaches, strategies and methods to strengthen the integration, sustainability and scalability of the interventions in Denmark and abroad.
Strategic focus
Objectives of Team Citizens and Sustainable Cities:
- To establish effective and sustainable structures, environments and social networks for health and social development among citizens living in disadvantaged communities and neighbourhoods.
- To establish effective and dynamic partnerships, coalitions and other collaborative structures with stakeholders from public, civic, private and academic environments in Denmark and abroad.
- To develop research-based strategies and approaches to develop, implement, monitor, evaluate, integrate and scale complex interventions in disadvantaged communities and neighbourhoods together with citizens and other local stakeholders.
- To influence local, national and international policy and practice for social and health development in disadvantaged communities and neighbourhoods.
- To promote health and reduce inequity among citizens living in disadvantaged communities and neighbourhoods.
The focus of Team Citizens and Sustainable Cities:
- Target groups: All citizens living in disadvantaged communities and neighbourhoods including children, young people, adults, families and elders independent of health status, socio-economic status and ethnicity.
- Settings: All accessible areas in disadvantaged communities and neighbourhoods including indoor and outdoor spaces, public areas, institutions, workplaces, shops, sports facilities, playgrounds, recreational areas and nature areas.
- Themes: Health promotion and its determinants including social conditions, education, occupation, ethnicity, culture, leisure, environment and climate.
- Methods: The Supersetting approach and its principles of participation, integration, action competence, context and knowledge. Action research including iterative development processes of Community Action Research (CAR). Both methods have been developed by Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen to organise and cocreate sustainable interventions in the local community.
Current research projects
Updated 30 January 2024