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Quantifying the urban environment: A scale measure of urbanicity outperforms the urban-rural dichotomy

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  • Dahly, Darren L.
  • Adair, Linda S.

Abstract

The rapid urbanization of the developing world has important consequences for human health. Although several authorities have called for better research on the relationships between urbanicity and health, most researchers still use a poor measurement of urbanicity, the urban-rural dichotomy. Our goal was to construct a scale of urbanicity using community level data from the Cebu Longitudinal Health and Nutrition Survey. We used established scale development methods to validate the new measure and tested its performance against the dichotomy. The new scale illustrated misclassification by the urban-rural dichotomy, and was able to detect differences in urbanicity, both between communities and across time, that were not apparent before. Furthermore, using a continuous measure of urbanicity allowed for better illustrations of the relationships between urbanicity and health. The new scale is a better measure of urbanicity than the traditionally used urban-rural dichotomy.

Suggested Citation

  • Dahly, Darren L. & Adair, Linda S., 2007. "Quantifying the urban environment: A scale measure of urbanicity outperforms the urban-rural dichotomy," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 64(7), pages 1407-1419, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:64:y:2007:i:7:p:1407-1419
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ruel, Marie T. & Haddad, Lawrence & Garrett, James L., 1999. "Some Urban Facts of Life: Implications for Research and Policy," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 27(11), pages 1917-1938, November.
    2. McDade, Thomas W. & Adair, Linda S., 2001. "Defining the "urban" in urbanization and health: a factor analysis approach," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 53(1), pages 55-70, July.
    3. Ruel, Marie T. & Haddad, Lawrence James & Garrett, James L., 1999. "Some urban facts of life," FCND discussion papers 64, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    4. Yach, Derek & Mathews, Catherine & Buch, Eric, 1990. "Urbanisation and health: Methodological difficulties in undertaking epidemiological research in developing countries," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 31(4), pages 507-514, January.
    5. Mutatkar, R. K., 1995. "Public health problems of urbanization," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 41(7), pages 977-981, October.
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