Poor Housing Conditions Research Articles

Occupational health morbidities and associated socio-demographic variables among street sweepers in a metropolitan city

BACKGROUND- In India, the traditional culture has stigmatized street sweeping as a filthy and lowly occupation. The medical problems of these workers are further compounded by various socioeconomic factors such as poverty, lack of education, poor housing conditions and poor diet. The objective of the current study was to assess the socio demographic profile of the street sweepers, the morbidities prevalent amongst them and to establish an association between socio demographic variables and various morbidities.METHODS- A cross sectional questionnaire based epidemiological study was carried out ,after taking written consent, amongst 100 street sweepers belonging to age group of 18-60 years in South Mumbai under E ward of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation for a period of 2 months.RESULTS- Skin problems (91%) followed by musculoskeletal disorders (88%) were the most common morbidities observed amongst street sweepers predominantly in males belonging to the age group of 40-50 years. The prevalence of anemia was found to be relatively higher in females with low socio economic background (6.7%). It was also observed that greater the duration of services, more was the risk of morbidities like musculoskeletal disorders (88.5%), respiratory disorders (11.5%), hypertension (6.4%) and cardiovascular disorders (1.3%).CONCLUSION- The most common morbidities observed were skin problems ( 91%) and musculoskeletal disorders (88%) predominantly in males belonging to age group 40-50 years. Anemia was more common in females . Additionally, illiteracy was a risk factor for respiratory symptoms (14.7%).KEYWORDS- Occupational health, Health hazards, Street sweepers,

Crisis over crisis: Covid-19 and two innovation proposals from Chile

ABSTRACT Chilean Social Work has its origins and has developed facing crises. The first chool founded in 1925—worked directly with infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and syphilis, exposing their causes: overcrowding, poor housing conditions, poverty and exploitation of working classes. The Pinochet’s dictatorship and related political crises during the last decades have also impacted the development of social work . Recently, gross inequalities and further discontent about the neoliberal Chilean model broke out last year when mass civil protests took over the country. A new crisis emerged with the arrival of COVID 19 exposing poverty, inequality, oppression, and dispossession accumulated during the decades, just as in the inception of the profession. In this paper, we discuss two initiatives promoted by the Department of Social Work at the University of Chile which propose to address professional training in the context of political and sanitary crises. The first initiative ‘Transdisciplinary Nucleus of Social Work’ integrates research and intervention seeking to impact public discussions, creating integrated spaces of professional and academic training of undergraduate and graduate social work students. The second initiative ‘Social Work Researchers Network—Online Training’ provides students and social workers with free access to social work courses donated by the network’s members.

Is there an additional effect on the risk of entry into out-of-home care from having parent(s) born outside of Europe in cases of alleged physical child abuse? – findings from Sweden

ABSTRACT Children to immigrants are over-represented in Sweden’s out-of-home care (OHC) population. The driving forces behind this over-representation have not been sufficiently researched. This study’s objective was (1) to investigate if having parent(s) born outside of Europe has an additional effect on the risk of entry into OHC in cases of alleged parental physical violence against children, and (2) to discuss potential empirical support for the risk model and the bias model for explaining the over-representation. The data for this study consisted of case-file data abstracted from 132 child-welfare investigations concluded with some form of intervention by Stockholm City in 2014. By using an interaction term in a logistic regression model, it was estimated that having parent(s) born outside of Europe had no additional effect on the risk of entry into OHC in these cases, i.e. the interaction effect was insignificant, OR = 1.302, 95% CI [0.345, 4.919]. The result was adjusted for sex, age, poverty, and lone parenting. Hence, discrimination in these cases does not seem to be a substantial driving force behind the over-representation. Instead, it may be driven by disparities in exposures to common risk factors for child abuse and neglect. Poverty, poor housing conditions are of high relevance for Stockholm City. Policymakers are advised to close the gap in living conditions between Swedish and foreign-born people in the country.

Human-Animal Relationship Dysfunction: A Case Study of Animal Hoarding in Italy.

Simple SummaryAnimal hording is a psychiatric disorder characterized by the accumulation of animals without providing them with adequate living conditions and the fulfillment of their minimum hygiene and ethological needs. It is now considered as a form of animal cruelty. Here, we present a case of an animal hoarding investigation from Italy that began in 2005 that remains unresolved. We describe the patient’s living and health conditions as well as the legal and animal welfare issues arising from the case. The difficulties that emerged from this case and the involvement of various bodies and agencies highlight the need for a multidisciplinary approach. In fact, this type of problem involves the human, animal, and environmental spheres. Moreover, a holistic approach should be taken and the creation of a National Observatory for Animal Hoarding Disorders could be useful to coordinate stakeholders’ interventions in order to adopt an efficient solution.“Animal hoarding” or “compulsive hoarding of animals” is a psychiatric disease, which has important social implications and a profound influence on animal welfare. To date, this phenomenon has been little investigated and largely unexplored. The present study aims to systematically describe a case of animal hoarding, which remains unresolved. The report refers to a case of a woman suffering from animal hoarding that emerged in 2005. From March 2014 to December 2019, 450 animals were seized over nine different occasions. This disease had significant implications on the welfare of the animals collected, which lived in poor housing and hygiene conditions that frequently led to their death. Since animal hoarding cases involve sanitary, legal, and veterinary aspects, we believe that a multidisciplinary approach is necessary in order to prevent a recurrence and a new accumulation of animals. A holistic approach should be taken according to the One Health principle that involves different stakeholders at every level in order to adopt an efficient solution.

Immigration, education, sense of community and mental well-being: the case of visible minority immigrants in Canada

ABSTRACT Immigrants often cite improvements in quality of life as the motivation for immigration, yet it can lead to the loss of social networks, family and community ties. This article employed key informant interviews to explore visible minorities’ sense of community from the perspectives of immigrant resettlement service providers. Nine key informants were interviewed to document visible minority immigrants’ experiences in Canada, and how this affected their sense of community. Participants identified barriers to immigrants’ development of a new sense of community, including discrimination tied to improper placement within the Canadian educational system, unemployment/underemployment, poor housing conditions, language barriers, and lack of social support networks. Confronting these barriers will require creating a stronger sense of community by providing more and better support of immigrants, visible minorities and everyone across Canada. This would help eliminate discrimination against ethnic minorities and enhance a sense of community belonging amongst visible minorities in Canada.

Faecal-oral transmission of SARS-CoV-2: a threat to Latin America?

We are living in times when a viral pandemic has stopped normal life in much of the world. The new viral agent named Coronavirus 2 of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV-2), was found to be the cause of the so-called Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). This new coronavirus is closely related to other emerging zoonotic coronaviruses, such as the etiological agent of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV) and the Coronavirus related to the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV), which can cause disease severe in humans (1). Early symptoms in most COVID-19 patients include fever, dyspnea, cough, and sore throat, which can progress to pneumonia in severe cases. Other symptoms such as some gastrointestinal manifestations, including diarrhea, are less frequent (2).
 Respiratory droplets and contact transmission are considered the most important routes of transmission of COVID-19 but do not fully explain the occurrence of all cases and the rapid spread of this new virus (3). Recently, some studies have reported evidence of the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in feces and wastewater, which raises the possibility of faecal-oral transmission of COVID-19. Some investigations have shown that the positivity of SARS-CoV-2 in the feces remains between 7 and 33 days after the samples of nasopharyngeal swabs were negative, increasing the possibility that the virus is transmitted through contaminated fomites (4, 5). Other studies have managed to isolate the virus present in the feces, determining the viability of the virus in these samples, showing the potential risk of faecal-oral contagion (3). Another associated intrinsic concern is the possibility of mechanical transmission of insect-mediated SARS-CoV-2. Vectors such as flies and cockroaches circulate in environments where feces are present and may carry viruses on their body and in their intestinal tract, contaminating surfaces (6).
 In recent months, studies have emerged where they detect the genetic material of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater (7). However, there is still no evidence of the viability of SARS-CoV-2 in these water sources. A study conducted on SARS-CoV during the outbreak in 2003 showed that the virus remains active in running water for 10 days at 23°C, while at low temperatures of 4°C the viability of the virus can reach up to 100 days. In wastewater, the viability of the virus decreases by 99.99% between 2-3 days at temperatures ~20°C and up to 14 days at 4°C (8). Considering the above, three possible environmental routes have been proposed for faecal-oral transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in humans from the feces. Within the main routes, it is found, the water, the surfaces, and the contact with the places where the vector insects circulate. From these environments, through different routes, viruses can reach the mouth and infect the intestinal and respiratory tracts of a susceptible host (9).
 To date, there have been no reports of humans contracting the SARS-CoV-2 virus through faecal-oral transmission, however, this possible mechanism itself represents a potential risk for the spread and transmission of COVID-19 in the Latin American context, considering that about 191 million people are living in poverty and 72 million in extreme poverty. This means that 30.8% of Latin Americans are poor, and 11.5% are extremely poor. This supposes that part of the population does not have the necessary resources such as food, drinking water, or managed sanitation (10). Additionally, disadvantaged people are more likely to live in overcrowded accommodation, with poor housing conditions, limited access to personal outdoor space, and overcrowding, factors that increase exposure to COVID-19.
 In conclusion, despite the need for more studies, if the "faecal-oral hypothesis" is confirmed as a transmission mechanism for COVID-19, it may result in far-reaching consequences for public health and pandemic control, especially in regions with fragile health systems such as Latin America, so studies are required to evaluate the influence of environmental factors on COVID-19 in the region.

The contexts of housing stability and change among HIV-positive persons in the Lower Manya Krobo Municipality, Ghana.

Due to stigma, discrimination and economic insecurity, persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs) are highly vulnerable to housing instability. For instance, PLWHAs are more likely to either remain stable in inadequate homes or change residence. Yet, few studies explore the contexts of housing stability and change among PLWHAs, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, where the majority reside. This study used qualitative in-depth interviews to explore the narratives of 38 PLWHAs on the contexts of housing stability and the circumstances leading to change in residence. On diagnosis with HIV, the majority of PLWHAs (58%) changed housing locations, mostly from bad to worse conditions. Reasons for change include: eviction due to stigma and discrimination, inability to afford rent, quest to hide HIV status and death of a cohabiting partner. Our findings suggest policy makers should pay attention to the deplorable and poor housing conditions of PLWHAs in Ghana.

Is discrimination a driving force behind the over-representation of children with an immigrant background in Swedish out-of-home care? A quantitative study from Stockholm City

ABSTRACT To research potential discrimination in concluding decisions of child-welfare investigations, i.e. to place children into out-of-home care or let them remain at home while providing services, this study applies logistic regression to a random sample of 132 (n = 132) investigations conducted by Stockholm City, Sweden, in 2014. First, the risk of entry into care associated with a set of practice-related factors was estimated. Second, the interactions between the significant factors and having first or second-generation immigrant background from outside of Europe was estimated using interaction terms. All interactions were insignificant: Lone parenting: OR = 0.301, 95% CI: 0.052–1.737; Number of reporters: OR:0.405, 95% CI: 0.082–1.964; Social problems in the child: OR = 0.788, 95 CI: 0.140–4.706; Neglect: OR = 2.210, 95% CI: 0.239–27.327; Number of social problems in the parent(s): OR = 2.209, 95% CI: 0.797–8.184; Previous placement: OR = 0.236, 95% CI: 0.017–2.950. Discrimination is therefore not indicated by the results. The large over-representation of immigrant children in Swedish out-of-home care is therefore more likely driven by disproportionate exposure to common risk factors for child welfare involvement (cf. Drake et al., 2011. Racial bias in child protection? A comparison of competing explanations using national data. Pediatrics, 127(3), 471–478. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2010-1710). Poor housing conditions, poverty and neighbourhood segregation are of relevance for Stockholm City.

PECULIARITIES OF MANIFESTATION OF THE SKIN FORM OF LEISHMANIASIS OF MAXILLOFACIAL LOCALIZATION

Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne disease in humans. Simple intracellular parasites cause the disease. Risk factors: socio-economic conditions, poverty. The disease is associated with malnutrition, with population displacement, with poor housing conditions, with a weak immune system, poor sanitary conditions, and lack of waste disposal. Up to 1 million new infections and up to 65,000 deaths from this disease occur annually. About 95% of cases of skin form disease occur in the countries of the American continent. Leishmaniasis occurs in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.
 The carriers of this disease are female mosquitoes. In the mosquito, parasites are in flagellate form. The natural reservoirs of Leishmania can be around 70 species of animals and humans. Infection occurs through mosquito saliva. After a bite, the parasite invades human mononuclear phagocytes. There may be infection of a person in contact with ulcers and other types of damage. Veterinarians have noted a dramatically increasing number of cases of disease in domestic animals.
 The following forms are clinically distinguished: cutaneous, mucocutaneous, diffuse cutaneous and visceral forms of leishmaniasis. After the disease develops, a stable immunity to this particular type of leishmaniasis develops.
 Cutaneous leishmaniasis is the most common form. Ulcers form in open areas of the body. Typical places of localization: face, ears, knees, elbows. Some nodules may have a warty surface or resemble xanthomas, keloids. After healing of these ulcers, scars remain for life.
 The nasopharynx, oral cavity, or nasal mucosa can be affected without destroying the nasal septum. For cutaneous leishmaniasis, the formation of an infectious granuloma is also characteristic.
 Treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis can be local or systemic, depending on the damage and pathogen. Local treatment is suitable for minor and uncomplicated lesions. Local treatment options: heat therapy, cryotherapy. Systemic therapy is used in patients with multiple extensive rashes.
 Patient K. turned to the maxillofacial department. The patient came home to Ukraine for the purpose of diagnosis and treatment. The patient works in Poland at a construction site. According to the patient, several courses of treatment. The treatment had no result. The pharmacotherapy of our Polish colleagues is not known to us. Clinically: superficial skin lesions on the face. On the face are three ulcers of different sizes. Two ulcers on the cheeks and one on the nose. Palpation of the edges of the ulcers is very painful.
 Diagnostic search for the etiology of this process. Consultation of a rheumatologist ̶ the goal of eliminating Wegener's disease, rheumatological diseases. Hematologist consultation ̶ exclude hematology. Infectionist consultation ̶ rule out parasitic diseases. Laboratory examination: biochemical blood test, immunogram, rheumatic tests. CT scan of the abdomen.
 Consultation of a parasitologist. The diagnosis was not in doubt.The patient refused examination and treatment in the infectious diseases hospital. The further fate of this patient is not known to us. We want to draw the attention of doctors to the need for a thorough history taking. An epidemiological history is crucial in such cases.
 Treatment of leishmaniasis is long and toxic. No method of treatment gives 100% of the result. The choice of treatment method will depend on the type of pathogen and the geographical location of the infection.This disease can be brought by tourists, students from relevant countries of the world to Ukraine.

Modeling the effect of area deprivation on COVID-19 incidences: a study of Chennai megacity, India

ObjectivesSocio-economic inequalities may affect coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) incidence. The goal of the research was to explore the association between deprivation of socio-economic status (SES) and spatial patterns of COVID-19 incidence in Chennai megacity for unfolding the disease epidemiology. Study designThis is an ecological (or contextual) study for electoral wards (subcities) of Chennai megacity. MethodsUsing data of confirmed COVID-19 cases from May 15, 2020, to May 21, 2020, for 155 electoral wards obtained from the official website of the Chennai Municipal Corporation, we examined the incidence of COVID-19 using two count regression models, namely, Poisson regression (PR) and negative binomial regression (NBR). As explanatory factors, we considered area deprivation that represented the deprivation of SES. An index of multiple deprivations (IMD) was developed to measure the area deprivation using an advanced local statistic, geographically weighted principal component analysis. Based on the availability of appropriately scaled data, five domains (i.e., poor housing condition, low asset possession, poor availability of WaSH services, lack of household amenities and services, and gender disparity) were selected as components of the IMD in this study. ResultsThe hot spot analysis revealed that area deprivation was significantly associated with higher incidences of COVID-19 in Chennai megacity. The high variations (adjusted R2: 72.2%) with the lower Bayesian Information Criteria (BIC) (124.34) and Akaike's Information Criteria (AIC) (112.12) for NBR compared with PR suggests that the NBR model better explains the relationship between area deprivation and COVID-19 incidences in Chennai megacity. NBR with two-sided tests and P <0.05 were considered statistically significant. The outcome of the PR and NBR models suggests that when all other variables were constant, according to NBR, the relative risk (RR) of COVID-19 incidences was 2.19 for the wards with high housing deprivation or, in other words, the wards with high housing deprivation having 119% higher probability (RR = e0.786 = 2.19, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.98 to 2.40), compared with areas with low deprivation. Similarly, in the wards with poor availability of WaSH services, chances of having COVID-19 incidence was 90% higher than in the wards with good WaSH services (RR = e0.642 = 1.90, 95% CI = 1.79 to 2.00). Spatial risks of COVID-19 were predominantly concentrated in the wards with higher levels of area deprivation, which were mostly located in the northeastern parts of Chennai megacity. ConclusionsWe formulated an area-based IMD, which was substantially related to COVID-19 incidences in Chennai megacity. This study highlights that the risks of COVID-19 tend to be higher in areas with low SES and that the northeastern part of Chennai megacity is predominantly high-risk areas. Our results can guide measures of COVID-19 control and prevention by considering spatial risks and area deprivation.

The effect of household crowding and composition on health in an Inuit cohort in Greenland.

Aims: This study aims to investigate the association between household crowding and household composition and self-rated health and mental health (GHQ scale) among the Inuit in Greenland. Poor housing conditions are a concern in Greenland, especially in the villages, where socioeconomic standards in general are lower. Methods: A cohort of 1282 adults participated in two population-based surveys in Greenland, the Inuit Health in Transition survey 2005-2010 (baseline) and The Health Survey in Greenland 2014 (follow-up). Associations between household conditions at baseline and health outcomes at follow-up (poor self-rated health and mental health measured by the GHQ scale) were examined using logistic regression models, adjusting for covariates at baseline. Results: Participants living in an overcrowded dwelling (more than one person per room) at baseline were more likely to report poor self-rated health at follow-up (OR 1.47; 95% CI 1.09; 1.99) compared with those not living in an overcrowded dwelling. In addition, participants who lived alone at baseline were more likely (OR 1.98; 95% CI 1.09; 3.58) to experience poor mental health at follow-up compared with those who lived with children. Conclusions: Results indicate that household conditions are related to health in Greenland. Public health authorities should work to ensure affordable housing of good quality in all communities.

Mexico’s housing crisis: vacancy, limited access & Deaf policy responses

ABSTRACT During the 2000s, millions of Mexicans acquired mortgages to buy homes in the fringes of cities throughout the country. Many such households have faced limited access to services, infrastructure and employment, and have seen their monthly mortgage payments increase while their debt remains virtually unchanged. In parallel, while about a third of Mexicans still live in poor housing conditions, numerous newly built developments have exhibited alarmingly high housing vacancy rates. Such coexistence of housing vacancy and shortages exposes considerable tensions in Mexican housing policy between the social and the economic values of housing. While previous analyses have centred on the financialization of housing policy in Mexico, this paper examines some of the local, political and socioeconomic implications of recent federal housing finance policy and urban development patterns, particularly as they relate to housing access and vacancy. Furthermore, this paper discusses the more recent evolution of Mexico’s housing and urban development policy, as well as the juxtaposition of the institutional and civic responses that have emerged to make front to previous financialization and housing development patterns and their implications.

Housing Poverty in Polish Households and its Diversity

Abstract Research background: The European Housing Charter defines housing as a basic necessity, but also a fundamental social right underpinning the European social model as well as an element of human dignity. Housing conditions constitute a major element of the broader quality of life for individuals and society. Purpose: The aim of this paper is to assess the level of housing poverty in general and in selected areas of an assessment of Polish households due to the selected socio-demographic characteristics of the respondent or household. Research methodology: The study was conducted on the basis of micro-data from the Household Budget Survey of 2017. To determine the housing poverty risk for each household the Integrated Fuzzy and Relative approach was used, which allows for the aggregation of symptoms measured on different measuring scales into the one risk assessment of poor housing conditions. This assessment, overall and in specific areas of housing poverty, became the basis for the study of the factors differentiating this kind of poverty. For this purpose, regression trees were used. Results: The greatest risk of housing poverty was observed in households living in rural areas, in families with many children, in the households of single mothers or fathers, as well as in households living on unearned sources of income. Novelty: The use of the Integrated Fuzzy and Relative approach for housing poverty research is an innovative approach and is applied in the paper.

A Potential Influenza Pandemic Modelled in Greek Refugee Camps

Abstract Research indicate a significant relationship between the spread of respiratory symptoms and poor housing conditions that arise due to overcrowding — both of which are typically prevalent in refugee camps. The World Health Organization states that the impact of a novel pandemic influenza virus on refugee and displaced populations is expected to be severe. There is, however, insufficient data on the health status of refugees and the spread of common diseases within these camps. In this study, agent-based simulation is employed to address the lack of data and to gain an understanding of the spread and prevalence of a communicable disease within refugee camps. The model aims to explore the spread of a potential influenza pandemic within a Greek refugee camp by modelling personal characteristics of refugees and their interactions with other members. The ability to model, with a reasonable level of accuracy, the spread of a potential influenza pandemic could assist humanitarian aid in combating the problem with evidence-based policy decisions.

Factors and Impact of Rural Out-Migration in Assam

The present study attempts to measure the factors of rural out-migration and to assess the impact of rural out-migration on agriculture mainly on labour availability, crop yield and farm income on agriculture in origin areas of migration mainly of the Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Non-ST communities in Dibrugarh district, Assam due to the fact that there is continuous decline in agricultural cultivators, increase in the slum population and increase in the unemployment rate. A total of 150 samples were collected from the farm households with migrants for more than one year. The rural out-migration from the study areas were mainly dominated by male and mostly by married male migrants of the age-group of 25-34 years old with a monthly income in the range of ₹ 10,000-15,000 in the destination. The push factors such as unemployment, crop failure, lack of unemployment opportunities and pull factors such as better wage, continuous income etc play an important role in the rural out-migration. However, the ST community opines that soil erosion and poor housing condition is a major factor of rural out-migration as they reside near the river Buridehing and flood damages the houses and erodes the soil of the homeland areas of the houses that are just living beside the river and as result of which their homeland area decreases year after year. The ST people migrate to far off places whereas the Non-ST people migrate within the states of the study area. Remittances and the net sown area are the major factors of the impact on agriculture. The impact of rural out-migration is felt in negatively on the labour supply and positively on increase in the land area, increase in food crop production and vegetable production and increase in the flow of income of the household. The Non-ST community find tea plantation is an additional source of income for sustainable living. Migration can be checked if more focus is given on the creation of small and cottage industries along with the optimum utilization of the agricultural resources. Lastly, area-specific programme should be launched to absorb the local skill and unskilled people.

Evaluating Housing Health Hazards: Prevalence, Practices and Priorities in Delhi\u2019s Informal Settlements

Housing quality is crucially linked to health and sustainability goals, yet there is limited research on informal housing and settlements where housing quality is poor, and the health risks are expected to be greatest. This paper describes the investigation of housing conditions in a low-income resettlement colony in Delhi. A novel transdisciplinary methodology to evaluate multiple housing health hazards and establish intervention priorities in participation with the community was developed. Findings from housing surveys and indoor environmental monitoring were contrasted with a participatory self-assessment—revealing the widespread prevalence of hazards and suboptimal housing conditions as well as substantial differences in priorities, and thus perspectives, between participants and researchers. Focus group discussions explored the findings and built consensus on priorities. Our findings uncovered how poor housing conditions affect daily practices and thus are likely to adversely affect socio-economic development and gender equality. We highlight limitations in current frameworks to assess housing hazards and argue that a transdisciplinary approach is vital to provide a holistic understanding and to develop effective interventions. These insights are crucial to inform inclusive solutions for adequate housing and human settlements that can support improved health and help achieve the sustainable development goals.

The impact of housing conditions on health outcomes

AbstractWe investigate the relationship between housing conditions and health outcomes using a data set that tracks 25,000 German households over 25 years. We document that individuals exposed to poor housing conditions report worse mental and physical health, and experience an 11% increase in doctor visits, increasing to 20% for age groups over 64. The analysis controls for individual, dwelling, and temporal fixed effects, and is robust to changes in socioeconomic status, lifestyle choices, and neighborhood conditions. As a robustness check, we use home renovations as major a trigger of changes in housing conditions. Restricting the analysis to tenants, whose renovations are paid by landlords, we document that home renovations significantly reduce doctor visits, corroborating the findings on home conditions and health outcomes.

YOUTH OF UKRAINE IN SOCIO-POLITICAL CHANGES IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE 1940s

Summary. The aim of the research is to fully explore the peculiarities of youth involvement in the socio-political processes that occurred in Ukraine during the second half of the 1940s. This aim has been achieved by using the complex of sources, historiographical achievements and applying the modern methodological approaches. The research methodology is based on the principles of scientific character, historicism, dialectical approach, the author’s objectivity, specific analysis, system-formation considering the methodological pluralism that exists in historical science today. There was used the principle of author’s objectivity particularly to evaluate the events and phenomena that had been occurring during this period and influenced on socio-economic, political and cultural life of the youth. The author used general scientific, interdisciplinary, general historical as well as specific sources research methods of the scientific research. The scientific novelty of the article consists in the argumentation of the fact, that, the material and social living conditions of the youth, its socio-political engagements and religious beliefs are studied here in the context of social, economic and political challenges of the postwar period considering the influence of external factors, ideologization and cultural life politization of Ukraine. Conclusions. Summing up, one of the main problems of the postwar young generation was the scarcity of housing, poor housing conditions and many others inconveniences. However, the targeted and aggressive state propaganda gave the population a hope for a better future and convinced people that all these postwar hardships were only temporary so the youth got used to the specific conditions of that time. It was the postwar generation who had the hardest time dealing with the choosing of their beliefs, assessment of the external and internal political events, sorting themselves out and their likes or dislikes due to the totalitarian regime in the country. Poor material and living conditions and rigorous policy of the ruling regime provoked the need of social changes among the young generation. This need contributed to the emergence of the «Khrushchev’s Thaw».

Living Precariously: Understanding International Students' Housing Experiences in Australia

In 2019, the authors conducted a landmark survey of more than 5,000 international students in Australia. The Information for Impact survey sought to gather information on exploitative conduct encountered by international students in housing and at work, and identify effective responses including interventions to empower international students. This is the first of three reports on the survey, focused on international students' living conditions. It reveals that a share house is the most common first home for international students in Australia, and that the overwhelming majority organise this themselves online or through personal contacts. International students in share houses most frequently encountered illegal or poor living conditions compared with other housing types (57% experienced these conditions in their first share house alone). These include: overcrowding; accommodation that is unsafe to live in; paying in advance for accommodation that does not exist; intimidation or harassment by a landlord or another tenant; landlords moving extra people into the accommodation without the student’s consent; sudden increases in rent in the middle of a rental period; and unfair eviction. Exploitation and poor housing were not restricted to students in English language or vocational colleges - most problems were experienced by similar proportions of university students. Deception and poor housing conditions were just as common for international students who organised their housing in Australia, as for those who organised their housing from abroad. Problems were most commonly experienced among respondents who organised their share house through social media or a peer-to-peer sharing website. The report concludes with a range of recommendations to governments, education providers and other key stakeholders for developing systemic responses to prevent exploitation and assist international students to address problems when they arise.

Podoconiosis, a neglected lymphatic tropical disease

Podoconiosis causes a painful massive swelling of the lower limbs, bilaterally and asymmetrically. It is caused by exposure to particles common in soils of volcanic origin and is second only to lymphatic filariasis as the leading cause of tropical lymphoedema. An estimated 4 million people live with podoconiosis globally in 32 potentially endemic countries. Podoconiosis is associated with positive family history of podoconiosis, bare foot, gender, poor housing condition, foot hygiene, income and educational status of the affected patients. There are also cultural barriers involved in maintaining a high epidemiology of the disease. Podoconiosis was never been prioritized either in intervention or research programmes. This may be due to the lack of resources for new health initiatives, which is a common problem in the low-income tropical countries in which this disease is present. Only Ethiopia, Cameroon, and Rwanda report podoconiosis within their routine health management information systems.We believe that comprehensive podoconiosis control strategies such as promotion of footwear and personal hygiene are urgently needed in endemic countries in the African Region. Mapping, active surveillance and a systematic approach to the monitoring of disease burden must accompany the implementation of podoconiosis control activities.