Fuente de San Luis Basic Health Area

Draft

1. Territorial Context and Definition

The Fuente de San Luís Basic Health Zone is located in the southeast of the city of Valencia, within District 10 of Quatre Carreres, and is one of the largest in the Valencia - Doctor Peset Health Department. It partially covers six neighborhoods with very diverse urban realities: Montolivet, En Corts, Fonteta de Sant Lluís, Na Rovella, Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències, and La Punta.

These neighborhoods combine well-established residential areas with others that accumulate social and environmental deficits, showing vulnerability indicators that affect the health and quality of life of the population. This diversity makes the area a strategic territory for community intervention and health equity policies.

2. Demographic and Structural Profile

The Basic Health Zone of Fuente de San Luis directly serves around 40,000 people, within a district that totals 76,572 inhabitants (2023). The average age is 44.7 years, and the aging index is high: there are 151 people over the age of 64 for every 100 under the age of 16, reflecting a population with a strong presence of elderly individuals. Additionally, 23.3% of the population is of migrant origin or recently arrived, which enriches the area with cultural diversity and varied experiences, though it also presents challenges in terms of reception, inclusion, and equity.

The average population density is 67.6 inhabitants per hectare, though this figure conceals significant differences between neighborhoods. For example, Montolivet, with an area of just 0.5 km² (50 hectares) and 19,000 inhabitants, is one of the most densely populated neighborhoods in the city of Valencia, with 380 inhabitants per hectare. On the opposite end, the Les Arts neighborhood, with 1 km² (100 hectares) and 7,000 inhabitants, has a density of only 70 inhabitants per hectare. These cases represent the extremes within the same health district.

Montolivet and En Corts concentrate an older population with lower employment activity, in urban environments with limited accessibility: low-rise buildings without elevators or garages, and streets with architectural barriers.
In contrast, the Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències presents a younger, more dynamic profile with greater service availability.
Fonteta and La Punta are characterized by lower population density, some physical isolation, and a smaller presence of migrant populations, while En Corts hosts a significant portion of newly arrived residents.
Likewise, in neighborhoods such as Na Rovella and Fonteta, lower levels of education and a significant number of elderly people living alone are observed.
These realities highlight the need to promote specific, inclusive actions that are sensitive to the diversity and inequalities present in the territory.

3. Socioeconomic Conditions

The socioeconomic indicators reflect significant structural inequalities between the neighborhoods that make up the Fuente de San Luis Basic Health Zone. While the average income in Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències reaches €27,005 per year, it drops to €13,736 in Na Rovella and stands at €15,728 in Fonteta de Sant Lluís. This territorial polarization highlights an unequal distribution of resources and opportunities.

These economic differences are accompanied by other forms of social vulnerability:
  • High unemployment rates, reaching 17.3% in Na Rovella
  • Large percentages of the population without secondary education (up to 34.7%)
  • Situations of energy poverty, with up to 36.8% of households spending more money than they can afford to maintain adequate living conditions (heating, ventilation, electricity, etc.).

This socioeconomic reality has direct effects on physical and mental health, as well as on equitable access to resources, everyday well-being, and social participation of the population. It drives the need for public policies that recognize and address these inequalities from a rights-based and social justice perspective.

4. Environmental and Urban Conditions

Environmental quality and accessibility to urban resources in the Fuente de San Luis Basic Health Zone are uneven and have a direct impact on the health and well-being of the population.

The area presents:
  • High exposure to environmental noise, with 27% of the population affected during the night.
  • Low tree coverage and a reduced vegetation index in most of the territory.
  • Great variability in access to green spaces: En Corts has only 1.72 m² of green space per inhabitant, while Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències reaches 28.19 m² per inhabitant. These inequalities limit the possibility of enjoying healthy and quality environments.
  • Significant physical and urban barriers are observed, such as 16% of homes lacking elevators, which especially affects older adults or people with reduced mobility.
  • Access to essential services (educational, health, sports, and public transport) is generally acceptable but very uneven between neighborhoods, and some public spaces, like those in Fonteta and La Punta, are limited or poorly connected.

These environmental conditions pose obstacles to promoting healthy, active, and accessible lifestyles for the entire population.

5. Health Status and Health Vulnerability

Social and environmental inequalities are reflected in health outcomes. Although life expectancy is around 82 years, concerning differences are recorded between neighborhoods:
Na Rovella accumulates 465.29 potential years of life lost per 100,000 inhabitants. This means many people die prematurely (premature mortality), indicating a serious health problem affecting this particular neighborhood.
Diseases responsible for premature mortality: Premature deaths in these neighborhoods are mainly related to non-communicable chronic diseases, which are health problems that are not contagious, such as heart disease and cancer. Common risk factors: In these neighborhoods, there is a high presence of factors that increase the risk of illness, such as obesity, tobacco use, and emotional or psychological distress.
Psychosocial dimension: It is not only about physical illnesses. In some neighborhoods, more than 30% of people experience unwanted loneliness, which affects their emotional well-being. Additionally, their perception of the social support they receive is low, averaging less than 6.5 out of 10, indicating that many people feel little companionship or support in their environment.
All these data show that improving health in these communities requires more than treating diseases individually. A broad and structural approach is necessary, taking into account social factors (such as poverty or isolation), environmental factors (air quality, access to healthy spaces), and community factors (support networks and social cohesion). This approach must be comprehensive (addressing all aspects influencing health) and intersectoral (coordinated across different areas such as health, education, housing, and social services).

6. Community Assets and Opportunities

Despite the challenges, the area has a strong foundation for transformation. Its greatest asset is the community itself: an active network of associations, well-established neighbourhood ties, and committed individuals who drive local initiatives. In neighbourhoods such as Fonteta de Sant Lluís and Montolivet, local identity and social cohesion are key resources for sustaining long-term change.

In this context, the Health Council of the Fonteta de Sant Lluís Basic Health Area plays a key role as a citizen participation space, facilitating collaboration between health professionals and local residents. It promotes active listening and dialogue to identify needs and co-design actions that improve community health and wellbeing. Participation in the Council strengthens resident engagement and enhances coordination with public services.

At the municipal level, the civil association València Saludable (Healthy Valencia) supports comprehensive strategies to promote healthy lifestyles, emotional wellbeing, and improvements to the urban environment. It works closely with neighbourhood networks and local stakeholders, providing resources, training, and campaigns that reinforce community health and prevention.

There is also significant institutional support, particularly from technical teams linked to València Innovation Capital and the city’s health promotion department, who are involved in ongoing community processes. Initiatives such as the Health Observatory provide visibility, resources, and coordination to strengthen these efforts.

In recent years, various community health, popular education, and urban improvement projects have been implemented, offering a strong platform from which to scale transformative strategies across the entire area.

7. Strategic Intervention Approach

Given the area’s complex and unequal reality, the strategy must be comprehensive and cross-cutting, aiming to:
  • Reduce social and health inequalities through intersectoral action
  • Improve the urban environment to make it greener, safer, more inclusive, and accessible
  • Strengthen social ties and promote active citizen participation
  • Integrate environmental and salutogenic perspectives into all public policies
This territory is a priority for advancing collective health policies centred on the community, moving towards a fairer, more inclusive, and resilient city.

Nieuwsbrief

PRIMEROS PASOS EN EL PROYECTO DE SALUD DE VALENCIA

Ha comenzado una iniciativa sanitaria innovadora en el barrio de Montolivet en Valencia. Se han celebrado una serie de reuniones y talleres comunitarios para iniciar un proceso participativo con la implicación de instituciones locales, profesionales y ciudadanía.