Rapid health impact assessment of a Danish policy document: One Denmark without Parallel Societies: No Ghettos in 2030

Abstract

Purpose

In 2010, the Danish government identified socially vulnerable areas in Denmark and defined the most deprived areas as “ghettos.” In 2018, the acting government passed a policy document called “One Denmark without Parallel Societies: No Ghettos in 2030,” which aims to eliminate ghetto areas by 2030. The aim of this study was to conduct a rapid health impact assessment (HIA) of the policy.

Methods

One ghetto area (Stengardsvej, Esbjerg) was selected for the HIA, and an equity-focused HIA tool was applied. A public health knowledge-based assessment was conducted on the policy-based health paradigm determinants. To gain an in-depth understanding of potential health impacts of the policy, two focus group discussions were conducted: one with municipal employees working in the area (four persons), and one with residents living in the area (five persons).

Results

The policy contains four key intervention areas: (1) housing, (2) place of residence, (3) crime prevention, and (4) early start in life. Positive health impacts could be expected to some extent in relation to “early start in life” through enhanced focus on education of children. Negative health impacts could be expected on “housing” and the focus on place of residence in the area. Crime prevention involves issues where the question of restriction of human rights can be raised. The most relevant health outcome mentioned by both residents and municipal employees was mental health. Quantification was not performed due to lack of specific data for targeted areas.

Conclusion

The overall health impacts of the policy “One Denmark without Parallel Societies: No Ghettos in 2030” were rather negative. Besides leading to poor mental health, substantial economic losses can be expected as well as issues related to human rights.

Appendices

Appendix I Detailed list of the five main intervention areas and 22 actions

1. Demolition or conversion of socially disadvantaged areas

• 1. Physical conversion of residential areas

• 2. New opportunities for settlement in socially disadvantaged areas

• 3. Access to terminate tenants on the sale of public housing

2. More firm/strict control of who can live in socially disadvantaged areas

• 1. Stop municipal relocation of people who receive social benefits to socially disadvantaged areas

• 2. Flexible rental opportunities in socially disadvantaged areas

• 3. Lower benefits for residents living within ghetto areas

• 4. Stop relocation of people receiving integration benefits to socially disadvantaged areas

• 5. Financial incentives/rewards to municipalities succeeding with integration efforts

3. Enhanced police effort and higher punishments for crimes committed in ghetto areas, to fight crime and create security

• 1. Strengthened police effort in “especially” socially disadvantaged areas

• 2. Higher punishment in certain areas (sharp penalty zone)

• 3. Criminals out of the ghettos

4. A good start in life for all children and young people

• 1. Mandatory daycare must ensure better Danish competencies before school start

• 2. Better distribution (of children) in daycare

• 3. Targeted language tests in grade 0

• 4. Penalties for poor performance in school

• 5. Strengthened parental responsibility through possibility of losing child allowances and individual parenting orders

• 6. Better distribution of students in gymnasiums (high schools)

• 7. Criminalization of re-acculturation trips (forced trips of young people to their parents’ homeland)

• 8. Tougher course against domestic violence

• 9. Early detection of vulnerable children

• 10. Tough punishment for breach of the special extended notification obligation

5. The government will follow up on the efforts against parallel societies

• 1. Three special ghetto representatives with the necessary skills