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Children
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Child and Adolescent Health in Urban Environments
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Child and Adolescent Health in Urban Environments

A special issue of Children (ISSN 2227-9067). This special issue belongs to the section "Global Pediatric Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (5 February 2026) | Viewed by 8289

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Rhiannon Thompson

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. NIHR School for Public Health Research, Newcastle, UK
2. School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
Interests: mental health; public health; child and adolescent health; environmental health; epidemiology; public involvement; mixed methods; systematic reviews
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Bina Ram

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
Interests: child health inequalities; mental health; physical activity; population health; environments; evaluations
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

More than half of the world’s population are living in urban areas. Understanding the impacts of urban living is of increasing interest, presenting huge public health opportunities to protect and enhance the health and wellbeing of whole populations. Urban environments present unique physical and social stressors, some of which children and adolescents may be particularly vulnerable to. They can also enable or obstruct positive influences on health such as physical exercise, social and community networks, and access to nature.

The goal of this Special Issue is to bring together current expertise, research, and knowledge from across disciplines, bridge gaps, and contribute to the holistic emerging picture of urban environments and pediatric health. We are inviting articles about (or with applications to) child and adolescent health in urban spaces, including air quality, noise, transport, greenspace, urban heat islands, community spaces, parks and playgrounds, mobility, accessibility, crime, inequalities, and housing.

You may choose our Joint Special Issue in Urban Science.

Dr. Rhiannon Thompson
Dr. Bina Ram
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Children is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • cities
  • environments
  • public health
  • mental health
  • youth

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

25 pages, 691 KB  
Article
The Impact of Placement Change on Sleep in Child Welfare
by Haritomane Brillakis, Xiaoran Tong and John S. Lyons
Children 2026, 13(5), 631; https://doi.org/10.3390/children13050631 - 1 May 2026
Viewed by 332
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Sleep disturbance is common among youth in the child welfare system, yet the role of placement instability and placement setting in shaping sleep outcomes remains understudied. This study examined the association between placement instability, time spent in different care settings, and sleep [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Sleep disturbance is common among youth in the child welfare system, yet the role of placement instability and placement setting in shaping sleep outcomes remains understudied. This study examined the association between placement instability, time spent in different care settings, and sleep disturbance among children in foster care. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using longitudinal administrative child welfare data from a Midwestern U.S. state, including 20,888 youth aged 5–18 years who entered foster care between 2010 and 2020. Sleep disturbance was assessed using the Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) sleep item. Baseline was defined as the first CANS assessment within one month of entry into care, and follow-up as the assessment closest to discharge or the end of a three-year observation window, whichever occurred first. We estimated association using a time-lagged linear mixed-effects model predicting sleep disturbance after each placement episode, including placement instability: 1 (reference), 2, 3, or ≥4 placement(s), time since placement, time spent in care settings (kinship, foster home, treatment foster home, congregate care, institutional care), and baseline trait factor scores derived from non-sleep CANS items, while controlling for sleep at the time of placement and demographics. Results: At baseline, 2016 children had actionable sleep disturbance (CANS sleep = 2 or 3; 1701 moderate and 315 severe). By the end of follow-up, this increased to 2884 children (2372 moderate and 512 severe). In linear mixed-effects models, placement instability demonstrated a dose–response association with higher subsequent sleep disturbance relative to one placement (2 placements: β = 0.025; 3 placements: β = 0.045; ≥4 placements: β = 0.067; all p ≤ 0.02). Time spent in kinship care was associated with lower sleep disturbance (β = −0.049; p < 0.001), whereas time spent in treatment foster homes was associated with higher sleep disturbance (β = 0.035; p < 0.001). Trauma in the family, medical/developmental needs, and internalizing/sexual issues were positively associated with sleep disturbance. Time and instability interactions showed modest attenuations of instability-associated sleep disturbance over time for higher placement counts. Conclusions: Placement instability is associated with progressively worse sleep disturbance over time among youth in foster care, even after controlling for sleep status at placement and baseline functioning. Sleep disturbance may represent an actionable indicator for the child welfare system, highlighting opportunities for targeted screening and support during placement transitions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Child and Adolescent Health in Urban Environments)
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13 pages, 369 KB  
Article
Factors Influencing Asthma in Children at Early Childhood Development Centres in a Densely Populated Urban Informal Township in Gauteng Province, South Africa
by Velisha Thompson, Joyce Shirinde, Masilu D. Masekameni and Thokozani P. Mbonane
Children 2026, 13(5), 627; https://doi.org/10.3390/children13050627 - 30 Apr 2026
Viewed by 299
Abstract
Background: Asthma is one of the leading chronic inflammatory respiratory conditions affecting children under 5 years of age, especially those who reside in socio-economically disadvantaged and densely populated low- and middle-income communities. Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted to ascertain the prevalence [...] Read more.
Background: Asthma is one of the leading chronic inflammatory respiratory conditions affecting children under 5 years of age, especially those who reside in socio-economically disadvantaged and densely populated low- and middle-income communities. Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted to ascertain the prevalence of factors influencing asthma and wheeze among young children attending early childhood development centres in Alexandra Township. Data were collected using a self-administered modified International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire. The analysis was performed utilising STATA version 19. The study sample comprised 3265 young children and their parents or guardians. Results: The findings reveal that the prevalence of asthma and current wheeze was 17.52% and 35.56%, respectively, while the prevalence of a history of wheeze was 64.36%. In the multivariate analysis, a family history of asthma was identified as a risk factor for asthma (p < 0.001) and for current wheeze (p < 0.001) and historical wheeze (p < 0.001). Additionally, the use of pain medication and passing of public transport were seldom identified as risk factors for both asthma and wheeze. Furthermore, exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke (p = 0.025) was found to influence the occurrence of asthma. Conclusions: This study highlights the impact of individual, household, and environmental factors on asthma. The findings are critical for the implementation of preventive environmental health measures to address this issue, particularly in low- and middle-income countries with limited curative resources. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Child and Adolescent Health in Urban Environments)
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17 pages, 695 KB  
Article
Food Environment Assessment in Primary Schools Before the Implementation of Mexico’s 2025 School Food Guidelines: A Mixed Method Analysis
by María Fernanda Rodríguez-Hernández, Ana Cecilia Fernández-Gaxiola, Larissa Betanzos-Robledo, Paola Guadalupe Ligonio-Gamas, Daniel López-Camarillo, Daniela María Tanchez-Sandoval, Sandra Jocelyn Mejía-Becerril, Verónica Noemí Álvarez-Rojas, Alejandra Cantoral and Esther Nissan-Schoenfeld
Children 2026, 13(1), 88; https://doi.org/10.3390/children13010088 - 6 Jan 2026
Viewed by 1377
Abstract
Background: Childhood obesity and being overweight represent a global public health challenge; the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and ultra-processed foods (UPFs) contributes to this problem. In Mexico, public health policies have been implemented to improve school food environments. Objective: To assess the [...] Read more.
Background: Childhood obesity and being overweight represent a global public health challenge; the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and ultra-processed foods (UPFs) contributes to this problem. In Mexico, public health policies have been implemented to improve school food environments. Objective: To assess the school food environment before the implementation of the guidelines for the preparation, distribution, and sale of food and beverages (SFGs) in three primary schools in Mexico City. Methods: A cross-sectional mixed method study was conducted, including structured non-participatory observation of selling points outside and inside of schools, and availability of drinking fountains and lunchboxes contents. A food waste audit assessment was performed to identify the most frequently consumed products, main ingredients, front-of-package labels, and colorants. Additionally, 23 semi-structured interviews were conducted with school authorities, teachers, and food vendors. Results: SSBs and UPFs selling points were observed outside and inside in public schools, while in private schools, only inside, with use of delivery food apps. Public schools lacked functional drinking fountains. A total of 345 food waste items were collected across the schools, of which 46.3% were SSBs and 53.7% were UPFs. The main ingredient was sugar (15.6%), the principal front-of-package was excess sugar (37.5%), and the most frequently used colorants were red 40 (25.1%). Interview participants reported awareness of the SFGs; however, they identified barriers such as resistance from parents and students and the economic dependence of school cooperatives on UPFs sales. Conclusions: These findings highlight structural and economic challenges for the effective implementation of public policies promoting healthier school food environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Child and Adolescent Health in Urban Environments)
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20 pages, 273 KB  
Article
Electronic and Conventional Cigarette Use and Academic Achievement Among Predominantly Low-Income Black High School Students
by Payam Sheikhattari, Rifath Ara Alam Barsha, Chidubem Egboluche and Shervin Assari
Children 2025, 12(9), 1237; https://doi.org/10.3390/children12091237 - 16 Sep 2025
Viewed by 2878
Abstract
Background: Tobacco use remains a major public health concern among adolescents, particularly as electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use has increased in recent years. While academic performance has been linked to health-risk behaviors, less is known about its specific relationship to tobacco use among predominantly [...] Read more.
Background: Tobacco use remains a major public health concern among adolescents, particularly as electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use has increased in recent years. While academic performance has been linked to health-risk behaviors, less is known about its specific relationship to tobacco use among predominantly Black youth in urban settings. Understanding this association is essential for informing targeted prevention strategies. Objective: To examine the association between academic performance (self-reported grades from A to F) and use of tobacco products—including conventional cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and other forms—among predominantly Black high school students in Baltimore, a city marked by socioeconomic and health disparities. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using survey data from 604 public high school students in Baltimore. The main predictor was self-reported average school grades. Outcomes included ever use of (1) combustible tobacco products, (2) e-cigarettes, and (3) any tobacco product. Logistic regression models estimated associations between academic performance and each tobacco outcome, adjusting for age, sex, race, parental education and employment, and household structure. Results: Among participants (mean age = 16.1 years), 20.2% reported using e-cigarettes, 7.1% used cigarettes, and 25.2% had used any tobacco product. Academic performance was inversely associated with all forms of tobacco use. Students with A, B, or C grades had significantly lower odds of e-cigarette use compared to those with D or F grades. Students with A grades had lower odds of cigarette use and any tobacco use. Conclusions: Lower academic achievement was consistently associated with higher odds of tobacco use among predominantly Black adolescents. Academic performance may help identify youth at higher risk of tobacco use and guide school-based prevention and intervention strategies in similar urban settings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Child and Adolescent Health in Urban Environments)
14 pages, 1222 KB  
Article
Visual Voices: Hispanic and African American Youth Perspectives on Neighborhood and School Health
by Norma Olvera, Rhonda Scherer, Tamal J. Roy, Nelson W. Chavez Cubas, Molly R. Matthews-Ewald and Consuelo Arbona
Children 2025, 12(9), 1165; https://doi.org/10.3390/children12091165 - 1 Sep 2025
Viewed by 1069
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Youth perceptions of their environments provide critical insight into the social and physical determinants of health. This study investigated how Hispanic and African American children conceptualize health within their neighborhood and school settings. Methods: A total of 44 participants (29 [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Youth perceptions of their environments provide critical insight into the social and physical determinants of health. This study investigated how Hispanic and African American children conceptualize health within their neighborhood and school settings. Methods: A total of 44 participants (29 Hispanic, 15 African American; Mean age = 9.27 years, SD = 1.28 years) participated in a photovoice project, capturing photographs and quotes in response to two guiding prompts: (1) “What does your dream of a healthy community look like?” and (2) “What should we do to make your community healthier?” Results: Thematic analysis of participants’ quotes and photographs yielded four overarching themes across both neighborhood and school environments: (1) access to nutritious food options, (2) opportunities for physical activity and recreation, (3) clean and safe spaces, and (4) access to extracurricular and community-based programs. A fifth theme, emergency preparedness and response, emerged uniquely within school context. Participants also proposed context-specific solutions to address identified health concerns. Conclusions: These findings emphasize the importance of environmental context in shaping child and preadolescent health perceptions and priorities. The results support the development of children and adolescent-informed, community-level interventions aimed at improving environmental health conditions, particularly in underserved communities disproportionately affected by poverty and structural inequities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Child and Adolescent Health in Urban Environments)
12 pages, 216 KB  
Article
Use of Electronic and Conventional Cigarettes and Self-Rated Mental Health in High School Students
by Payam Sheikhattari, Rifath Ara Alam Barsha, Chidubem Egboluche and Shervin Assari
Children 2025, 12(7), 902; https://doi.org/10.3390/children12070902 - 8 Jul 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1444
Abstract
Background: Youth tobacco use remains a significant public health concern, particularly in urban communities disproportionately burdened by health disparities. In Baltimore City, where tobacco-related harms are elevated, understanding the relationship between tobacco use—including e-cigarettes—and mental health among high school students is essential for [...] Read more.
Background: Youth tobacco use remains a significant public health concern, particularly in urban communities disproportionately burdened by health disparities. In Baltimore City, where tobacco-related harms are elevated, understanding the relationship between tobacco use—including e-cigarettes—and mental health among high school students is essential for guiding equitable prevention and cessation strategies. The CEASE (Communities Engaged and Advocating for a Smoke-free Environment) program, in collaboration with the American Lung Association’s Not On Tobacco (N-O-T) initiative, developed an online school-based survey to inform community-responsive interventions. Aims: This study aimed to examine the associations between cigarette use, including conventional cigarette use, and self-rated mental health among high school students in Baltimore City. Methods: High school students in Baltimore City completed an anonymous online survey that assessed demographic characteristics, tobacco knowledge and use, mental health, and related behaviors. Self-rated mental health was dichotomized as poor versus fair/good. Tobacco use categories included current use of e-cigarettes and conventional cigarettes. Logistic regression models were used to examine associations between tobacco use and self-rated mental health, adjusting for age, gender, race, and parental education. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were reported. Results: No statistically significant associations were found between self-rated mental health and e-cigarette use and conventional tobacco use after adjusting for covariates. Conclusions: The absence of a significant association may reflect unique aspects of the social context in Baltimore City, where youth may not use tobacco products as a coping mechanism for mental health challenges. Alternatively, it may be due to limitations in measurement, particularly the use of a single-item mental health assessment. These findings should be considered preliminary. Future research using more comprehensive mental health measures and larger samples is warranted to further explore these complex relationships. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Child and Adolescent Health in Urban Environments)
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