The contribution of quantitative geography to studies on social inequalities in health
As a field of research integrating geography and epidemiology, the analysis of neighbourhood effects on health has received increasing attention in recent years. Our research focuses on the social and material characteristics of local milieux as risk factors for health. This paper first proposes an overview of the main factors explaining the mechanisms through which conditions in a given area might influence health. We then present the empirical indicators used for measuring area effects on health and, in conclusion, identify challenges and avenues for future research.