What is health geography?
Health geography is a sub-discipline of human geography and takes a more holistic approach to the study of health by linking the social, cultural, and physical environment to health and disease outcomes. It’s important to note the shift away from the traditional focus on disease to a broader social model of health and wellbeing.
What does the health geography module involve?
In the GGY3096 module, we break the study of health geography into three parts: health and the environment, health inequalities and health policy. Through these broad themes, we look at several ways in which space and place can influence our health using geography as a mediator, an organising principle and as a method of targeting health policies and interventions.
The module is structured as a one-hour lecture followed on the same day by a two-hour interactive session. These can take the format of groupwork, tutorial-style learning, computer practical or workshop and focus on applying the theory from the lecture to real-world problems and scenarios. We learn how to critically analyse case studies, design interventions, use statistical analyses to solve problems and trace outbreaks of disease.
Why is this important?
Geography and health are intrinsically linked. Where we are born, live, study, and work directly and indirectly influence our health experiences. The study of health geography helps understand how environmental factors, like pollution and climate change, influence the spread of diseases and the overall well-being of populations (Fig.1).
Health Geography also helps identify patterns of disease prevalence, and inequalities in access to healthcare services. Spatial analysis can pinpoint areas at higher risk for certain health issues, allowing for targeted interventions and resource allocation. Ultimately, health geography plays a pivotal role in informing public health policies, community design, and healthcare resource allocation strategies, contributing to more effective and equitable healthcare systems.
How has my research led me to the study of health geography?
My research is very multi-disciplinary and this likely stems from a varied educational background. I have a BSc in Biomedical Science and an MSc in Public Health and Research Methods from University of Aberdeen. This was my first experience of research and looked at falls within the elderly community.
Keeping an environmental focus, my PhD at QUB looked at biological and environmental determinants of macular pigments levels in the eye and at this stage I was very interested in the interplay between biological and psychosocial factors and how they can influence health at various stages of the life course. I gained valuable experience in this field working on a large EU project based in Oulu, Finland and returned to QUB four years ago to work on Northern Ireland data.
Having also worked for the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency and being heavily involved in the data ecosystem within Northern Ireland, I have a keen interest in the use of data to solve problems and this feeds into the practical approach I take for my module.
If anyone would like to ask Estelle Lowry questions regarding health geography, email: e.lowry@qub.ac.uk
