Abstract
Background
Neighbourhood Renewal (NR) was launched in Northern Ireland (NI) in 2003 to revive the social, economic and physical fabric of thirty-six deprived communities, characterised by a legacy of sectarian conflict. This study evaluates the impact of the policy on health over a decade.
Methods
A merged panel of secondary data from the British Household Panel Survey (2001-2008) and Understanding Society (2009-2012) yields longitudinal information on respondents for twelve years. We conducted a controlled before and after investigation for NR intervention areas (NRAs) and three control groups – two groups of comparably deprived areas that did not receive assistance and the rest of NI. Linear difference-in-difference regression was used to identify the impact of NR on mental health, self-rated health, life satisfaction, smoking and exercise. Subgroup analysis was conducted for males and females, higher and lower educated, retired, unemployed and home owner groups.
Results
NR did not have a discernible impact on mental distress. A small, non-significant, trend towards a reduction in the gap of good self-rated health and life satisfaction between NRAs and controls was observed. A 10% increase in probability of rating life as satisfying was uncovered for retirees in NRAs compared to the rest of NI. Smoking in NRAs declined on par with people from control areas so a NR influence was not obvious. A steady rise in undertaking weekly exercise in NRAs compared to controls was not statistically significant.
Conclusions
Area-based initiatives may not achieve health gains beyond mainstream service provision, though they may safeguard against widening of health disparities.
Neighbourhood Renewal (NR) was launched in Northern Ireland (NI) in 2003 to revive the social, economic and physical fabric of thirty-six deprived communities, characterised by a legacy of sectarian conflict. This study evaluates the impact of the policy on health over a decade.
Methods
A merged panel of secondary data from the British Household Panel Survey (2001-2008) and Understanding Society (2009-2012) yields longitudinal information on respondents for twelve years. We conducted a controlled before and after investigation for NR intervention areas (NRAs) and three control groups – two groups of comparably deprived areas that did not receive assistance and the rest of NI. Linear difference-in-difference regression was used to identify the impact of NR on mental health, self-rated health, life satisfaction, smoking and exercise. Subgroup analysis was conducted for males and females, higher and lower educated, retired, unemployed and home owner groups.
Results
NR did not have a discernible impact on mental distress. A small, non-significant, trend towards a reduction in the gap of good self-rated health and life satisfaction between NRAs and controls was observed. A 10% increase in probability of rating life as satisfying was uncovered for retirees in NRAs compared to the rest of NI. Smoking in NRAs declined on par with people from control areas so a NR influence was not obvious. A steady rise in undertaking weekly exercise in NRAs compared to controls was not statistically significant.
Conclusions
Area-based initiatives may not achieve health gains beyond mainstream service provision, though they may safeguard against widening of health disparities.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health |
| Volume | 71 |
| Issue number | 9 |
| Early online date | 08 Aug 2017 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 01 Sept 2017 |
Access to Document
- Evaluation of the health impact of an urban regeneration policy: Neighbourhood Renewal in Northern Ireland
© Springer Science+Business Media New York 2017. This work is made available online in accordance with the publisher’s policies. Please refer to any applicable terms of use of the publisher.