Housing and environmental factors

• Survey
• Impacts of your housing environment

Survey/Research Studies - Results

Let us examine the impacts of the housing environment on human health. As cited as part of an article by D’Souza RM on the Journal of Biosocial Science; Research studies in a Karachi slum in Pakistan showed that families which did not have adequate housing facilities, such as clean water, toilets cooking utensils, and poor housing structures suffered from diarrhea and respiratory infections mostly in children under 5years. In these cases, malnutrition and family income.

Another survey conducted in London on Bangladeshi families where half the population resided and slept in damp bedrooms which lacked adequate heaters to keep themselves warm showed that:

• more than one third of families were victims to some form of plague.
• over the 150day survey, 107 households experienced 280 illnesses; for contrast, a well-housed example in Paddington only had a 14% illness rate.
• illnesses such as coughs, colds, body aches, asthma, bronchial problems, diet and digestive problems, stress and depression were very frequent.
• The 20 families in the most awful housing environments suffered from the worst health records.
• 73% of households believe their ill health was due to the poor housing standards.

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Impacts - Your housing environment

Lead based paint in older structures or pipes can lead to lead poisoning, leading to adverse effects in the human health and unborn babies.

Houses constructed without being in the vicinity of sidewalks, paths, or recreational areas will bring about obesity as it does not encourage people to exercise or interact with the community.

Whereas those sited away from supermarkets yet near many convenience stores and fast food outlets will find that their access to healthy intake and fresh fruits and vegetables to be very limited.

Abundance of liquor stores or bars will also encourage alcohol consumption which may lead to violence and drunk driving.

Houses situated around industrial areas (auto repair shops) will also bring about air, water or land pollution while those near highways will be at risk of air and noise pollution.

Rundown housing units encourage the growth of mold, dust mites, insects, rodents which can cause asthmatic problems, allergies, respiratory problems and many a times may carry with them infectious diseases.

A lack of libraries and community health centers will hinder your mental growth and general health from a lack of relaxation and access for health maintenance and vaccinations against diseases.

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