Qualitative Research on the Impact Assessment in Health: The Experience of a reform plan in a neighborhood of Bilbao

Abstract

Objective: to know the perceived effects on health of a neighborhood of Bilbao reform plan from the perspective of the neighbors and stakeholders, and identify those areas for possible improvement. Methodology: qualitative study. Obtaining information through participant observation, four discussion groups (three neighbors and another one with health professionals and social workers), and four interviews with key informants. The analysis was designed on the model of sociological analysis of the speech. Results: The findings set three areas related to socio-historical context of the neighborhood, the dynamic nature of the intervention and perceived impact on health in eight specific areas (urban accessibility, water and draining, recreation areas, power lines burial, parking place and road traffic, the small works, to feel as citizens, and social cohesion). Conclusions: Qualitative methods enabled deepen the significance of these findings in the direction of their interrelations, which enabled a better understanding of the impact on the health plan. It also points out some major methodological challenges for the development of future impact assessments on health.

Keywords

• health Impact assessment
• public health
• qualitative research.