More than half of the global population lives in urban areas, with this figure expected to grow markedly in the coming decades. Cities are hubs of opportunity but also of complex public health challenges, including deepening inequalities, environmental degradation, population displacement, and the pressures of climate change. These interconnected phenomena, deeply embedded in urban life, are reshaping the landscape of public health practice and research.

This joint IJPH and PHR special Issue aims to advance the field of urban health by calling for interdisciplinary and policy-relevant research from across the globe. For PHR, we invite high-quality Reviews (all types) and Policy Briefs. For IJPH, we invite Original Articles.

We invite contributions from across disciplines and encourage submissions emphasising equity, innovation, and measurable impact on urban health. We particularly encourage contributions that:
• Examine urban health inequalities and their social and environmental drivers, including housing, violence, climate risks, green and blue spaces, among others
• Investigate mental and social health in cities, including loneliness, social isolation, and community connectedness
• Assess innovative urban health policies, governance models, and public health interventions
• Address smart cities and digital health solutions for urban populations
• Explore the impacts of climate adaptation strategies, sustainable urban food systems and nature-based solutions
• Present theoretical, methodological, or conceptual innovations in urban health research
• Share insights from underrepresented contexts, especially in the Global South

Further information
IJPH and PHR double-blind peer-review and author guidelines apply. Submitted manuscripts and abstracts must fully comply with the IJPH/PHR rules for article type, length and format (please consult the information for authors on the IJPH or PHR website).

You may submit an abstract in the first instance. In case of acceptance after peer review, articles will be published in the online special issue approximately 3 weeks after acceptance.

Contact:
PHR Editorial Office: phr@swisstph.ch
IJPH Editorial Office: ijph@swisstph.ch

Authors

Public Health Reviews

Other participating journals

International Journal of Public Health