Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

Poor housing is an important public health risk worldwide. Addressing this issue offers an opportunity to highlight a vital social determinant of health. This study aimed to evaluate housing conditions and their potential health consequences in three different zones of National Capital Territory of Delhi, India. A cross-sectional design used for data collection from random sample of 1896 households through door to door survey method was adopted for this study. It is hypothesised that housing conditions and health outcomes vary in different parts of the city according to their geographical location, and historical background of development. A trend of overcrowded housing condition was reported by nearly 65% of the respondents in city zone, while the respective percentage for Najafgarh and Shahdara was 35% and 46%. Regression analysis of household level data controlling individual socio-economic and demographic covariates indicates, respiratory infections were the main health outcomes (p<0.006) and attached to overcrowding; ARI (OR 1.62, CI 1.42–1.84), tuberculosis (OR 1.26, CI 1.11–1.44) and asthma (OR 1.17, C.I 1.03–1.33). The study concludes that a uniform approach cannot solve the problem. A combination of programmes and policies including implementation of housing codes, renovation work, and generating awareness among the dwellers can lead to a better health.

Keywords

Delhi Housing conditions Health consequences Historical background Geographical location

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

CWF

Kim

: Holistic healthy building for human habitat: Indoor Built Environ 2011;20(1):3–4.

Leech

Nelson

Burnett

Aaron

Raizenne

: It’s about time: a comparison of Canadian and American time-activity patterns: J Expo Anal Environ Epidemiol 2002;12:427–432.

Brasche

Bischof

: Daily time spent indoors in German homes—baseline data for the assessment of indoor exposure of German occupants: Int J Hyg Environ Healt 2005;208:247–253.

Choi

: Sustainable design for asian housings; traditional culture, lighting and asthetics: Indoor Built Environ 2011;20(5):485–487.

Singh

CWF

Kim

: Building pathology, investigation of sick buildings – toxic moulds: Indoor Built Environ 2010;19(1):40–47.

Eggleston

Arruda

: Ecology and elimination of cockroaches and allergens in the home: J Allergy Clin Immunol 2001;107:422–429.

CWF

Kim

: Building pathology, investigation of sick buildings – VOC emissions: Indoor Built Environ 2010;19(1):30–39

Mackenbach

Howden-Chapman

: Houses, neighbourhoods and health: Eur J Public Health 2002;12:161–162.

Thomson

Petticrew

Douglas

: Health impact assessment of housing improvements: incorporating research evidence: J Epidemiol Commun Health 2003;57:11–16.

10.

Bruce

Perez-Padilla Albalak

: Indoor air pollution in developing countries: a major environmental and public health challenge: Bull World Health Organ 2000;78:1078–1092.

11.

Bornehag

Blomquist

Gyntelberg

: Dampness in buildings and health- Nordic interdisciplinary review of the scientific evidence on associations between exposure to “dampness” in buildings and health effects (NORDDAMP): Indoor Air 2001;11:72–86.

12.

13.

Krieger

Higgins

: Housing and health: time again for public health: Am J Public Health 2002;92(5):758–768.

14.

Braubach

Bonnefoy

: Housing and health: the Eastern European challenge: Open House Int 2001;26(2):8–22.

15.

Stephens

: The urban environment, poverty and health in developing countries: Health Policy Plan 1995;10:109–121.

16.

Firdaus

: Urbanization and changing air quality in Delhi-a strategy for its better management: Asian J Water Environ Pollut 2011;8(1):23–31.

17.

18.

19.

Ahmad

Firdaus

: Ambient air pollution and its impact on human health - a case study of Delhi: The Geographer 2006;53(2):57–65.

20.

21.

Aziz

: Changing Face of Delhi - A Geographical Perspective. New Delhi, Indisco, 1983, pp. 57–58.

22.

Mitra

: Delhi Capital City. New Delhi, Thompson Press, 1970, p. 11.

23.

Rana

: Unauthorized housing in a modern metropolis: Delhi: in Rai

Singh

Nayak

Mipun

: Environment Resource and Development. Shillong, The Geographical Society of North-East Hill Region, Shillong, 2001, pp. 173–189.

24.

Firdaus

Ahmad

Noise pollution and human health: a case study of Municipal Corporation of Delhi: Int J Indoor Built Environ 2010;19(6):648–656.

25.

26.

Firdaus

Ahmad

: Indoor air pollution and self-reported diseases – a case study of NCT of Delhi: Indoor Air 2011;21:410–416

27.

Packer

Stewart-Brown

Fowle

: Damp housing and adult health: results from a lifestyle study in Worcester, England: J Epidemiol Commun Health 1991;48:555–559.

28.

Fonseca

Kirkwood

Victora

Fuchs

Flores

Misago

: Risk factors for childhood pneumonia among the urban poor in Fortaleza, Brazil: a case–control study: Bull World Health Organ 1996;74:199–208.

29.

Belanger

Beckett

Triche

Bracken

M. B

Holford

Ren

McSharry

Gold

Platts-Mills

Leaderer

B P

: Symptoms of wheeze and persistent cough in the first year of life: associations with indoor allergens, air contaminants, and maternal history of asthma: Am J Epidemiol 2003;158:195–202.

30.

Harving

Korsgaard

Dahl

: House dust mite exposure reduction in specially designed, mechanically ventilated ‘healthy’ homes: Allergy 1994;49:713–718.

31.

Williamson

Martin

McGill

Monie

Fennerty

: Damp housing and asthma: a case–control study: Thorax 1997;52:229–234

32.

Pilotto

Nitschke

Smith

Pisaniello

Ruffin

McElroy

Martin

Hiller

: Randomized controlled trial of unflued gas heater replacement on respiratory health of asthmatic schoolchildren: Int J Epidemiol 2004;33:208–214.

33.

Oie

Nafstad

Botten

Magnus

Jaakkola

: Ventilation in homes and bronchial obstruction in young children: Epidemiology 1999;10:294–299.

34.

Huss

Adkinson

Eggleston

Dawson

Van Natta

Hamilton

: House dust mite and cockroach exposure are strong risk factors for positive allergy skin test responses in the Childhood Asthma Management Program: J Allergy Clin Immunol 2001;107:48–54.

35.

Bacharier

Strunk

: Pets and childhood asthma - how should the pediatrician respond to new information that pets may prevent asthma?: Pediatrics 2003;112:974–976.

36.

Phipatanakul

Cronin

Wood

Eggleston

Shih

Song

Tachdjian

Oettgen

: Effect of environmental intervention on mouse allergen levels in homes of inner-city Boston children with asthma: Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2004;92:420–425.

37.

38.

Yen

Syme

: The social environment and health: a discussion of the epidemiologic literature: Ann Rev Public Health 1999;20(1):287–308.

39.

Thomson

Petticrew

Douglas

: Health impact assessment of housing improvements: incorporating research evidence: J Epidemiol Commun Health 2003;57:11–16.

40.

Lawrence

: Urban health: a new agenda?: Rev Environ Health 2000;15(1–2):1–12.

41.

Williams

: Therapeutic landscapes in holistic medicine: Soc Sci Med 1998;46(9):1193–1203.

Relationship between Housing and Health: A Cross-Sectional Study of an Urban Centre of India

Abstract

Keywords

Get full access to this article

References