Using a co-created transdisciplinary approach to explore the complexity of air pollution in informal settlements

Datos Bibliográficos

ID22235552
AutoresSarah West (0000-0002-2484-8124, Stockholm Environment Institute, autor de correspondencia), Cressida Bowyer (0000-0001-7202-4106, University of Portsmouth), William Apondo (0000-0001-7585-1991, Stockholm Environment Institute), Patrick Büker (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit), Steve Cinderby (0000-0002-8394-2831, Stockholm Environment Institute), Cindy M Gray (0000-0002-4295-6110, University of Glasgow), Matthew Hahn (0000-0003-1268-0472, Independent Dance), Fiona Lambe (0000-0003-3664-9891, Stockholm Environment Institute), Miranda Loh (0000-0002-4285-0375, Institute of Occupational Medicine), Alexander Medcalf (0000-0002-8498-5075, University of York), Cassilde Muhoza (0000-0002-0003-0678, Stockholm Environment Institute), Kanyiva Muindi (0000-0002-5166-5243, African Population and Health Research Center), Timothy Kamau Njoora (Kenyatta University), Marsailidh Twigg (0000-0002-5462-3348, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology), Charlotte Waelde (0000-0002-5205-9720, Coventry University), Anna Walnycki (International Institute for Environment and Development), Megan Wainwright (0000-0001-9584-9944, Durham University), Jana Wendler (0000-0002-9438-6455), Michael Wilson (0000-0003-0217-7646, Loughborough University), Hugh Douglas Price (0000-0001-6886-4516, University of Stirling)
Año2021
Volumen8
Número1
Fecha de publicación2021-11-19
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaHumanities and Social Sciences Communications (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 2662-9992 • E-ISSN: 2662-9992
EditorialSpringer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1057/s41599-021-00969-6
OpenAlexW3217567377
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas9
Referencias citadas82

We present novel co-created transdisciplinary research that uses arts and humanities methods to explore air pollution in an informal settlement (Mukuru) in Nairobi, Kenya. Air pollution is a well-documented major human health issue, but despite many air pollution reduction interventions designed to improve health, these are frequently ineffective. Often this is because they fail to account for local knowledge, cultural practices and priorities of the intended recipients. Designing solutions therefore requires in-depth exploration of relevant issues with stakeholders. Researchers worked collaboratively with local residents to develop a range of methods to explore understandings of air pollution including interviews, storytelling, participatory mapping and theatre. Together, we uncovered contrasting definitions of air pollution, differing perceptions of who was responsible for enacting solutions, and overall a view that air pollution cannot be seen in isolation from the other issues faced by settlement residents. The methods used also allowed us to communicate about the topic with a wide audience. While we acknowledge that this research approach is more time consuming than traditional approaches, we urge other researchers wishing to address multifactorial problems, such as air pollution to use a mixture of qualitative, participatory and creative methods to engage with a wide range of stakeholders to elicit new and unexpected understandings that may not otherwise emerge

Air pollution · Business · Citizen journalism · Environmental planning · Environmental resource management · Geography · Human settlement · Political science · Psychological intervention · Public relations · Sociology · Air Quality and Health Impacts · Climate Change and Health Impacts · Environmental Science · Noise Effects and Management · Psychology · Ecology