URBAN EQUITY AND URBAN HEALTH - USING EXISTING DATA TO UNDERSTAND INEQUALITIES IN HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT IN ACCRA, GHANA AND SAO-PAULO, BRAZIL

This paper describes the methods used to study inequalities in health status and environmental conditions between different groups in the ci ties of Sao Paulo and Accra. The studies used existing data, drawn fro m different sources, and involved staff from different government agen cies (from city authorities and higher levels), academics and NGOs in determining how best to use it. The paper also provides a summary of t he main findings, including a discussion not only of inequalities in h ealth between the best quality and worst quality zones in each city bu t also on how health risks differ by age group. The paper begins by co nsidering why information on such inequalities is so important for pol icy makers and why so little data on this are available in most cities in the South.