Substandard Housing Conditions Research Articles

Inadequate Social Housing and Health: The Case of Oliver Bond House, The Liberties, Dublin

Background Inadequate housing is an important social justice issue that adversely affects health. Methods Drawing on an extended ethnography case study, this paper presents the results of a resident-led survey to highlight the health consequences of inadequate social housing, as residents wait for a ‘fair regeneration’ of their social housing ‘flats’ estate within a gentrifying inner-city Dublin neighbourhood. Results Four key concerns were identified by residents as part of this analysis: (1) substandard housing conditions which are physically harmful to health; (2) the emotional toll of an unsafe social environment; (3) lack of child friendly and community green spaces; and (4) constrained mobility due to inaccessible housing design. Conclusions The results highlight the urgent need to place greater priority on the maintenance of the existing social housing stock and demonstrate the need for public housing policies that recognize the quality and quantity of adequate housing provision, where care is at the heart of housing policies. The paper also presents a novel ‘City of Care’ framework, following the need to develop an ethics of care within cities where public health, community wellbeing, solidarity, residents’ empowerment, and social justice principles are at the forefront. Given that housing is an essential contributor to good health, it is now time for a joint public housing and public health agenda to create healthier homes by confronting the everyday impact of inadequate housing to tackle social inequalities more broadly.

Deprivation and Its Association with Child Health and Nutrition in the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area of Uganda.

African cities are experiencing increasing living standard disparities with limited evidence of intra-urban health disparities. Using data from the 2006-2016 Uganda Demographic and Health Surveys, we employed the UN-Habitat definition to examine slum-like household conditions in the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area (GKMA). Subsequently, we developed a slum-like severity index and assessed its association with under-5 common morbidities and healthcare access. We also assessed the characteristics of people in slum-like household conditions. We identified five slum-like conditions: substandard housingconditions, limited water access, overcrowding, unclean cooking fuel, and limited toilet access. By 2016, 67% of GKMA households were classified as slum-like conditions, including 31% in severe conditions. Limited toilet access, overcrowding, and limited water access were the main forms of deprivation.Living in slum-like household conditions correlated with lower education levels, youth status, unprofessional jobs, and marriage. Compared to neighboring Kampala city urban outskirts, Kampala city households had lower slum-like prevalence. Children in GKMA living in slum-like household conditions were morelikely to experience diarrhea (moderate: OR = 1.21[95% CI: 1.05-1.39], severe: OR = 1.47 [95% CI: 1.27-1.7]); fever (moderate: OR = 2.67 [95% CI: 1.23-5.8], severe: OR = 3.09 [95% CI: 1.63-5.85]); anemia (moderate: OR = 1.18 [95% CI: 0.88-1.58], severe: OR = 1.44 [95% CI: 1.11-1.86]); and stunting (moderate: OR = 1.23 [95% CI: 1.23-1.25], severe: OR = 1.40 [95% CI: 1.41-1.47]) compared to those living in less slum-like conditions. However, seeking treatment for fever was less likely in slum-like household conditions, and the association of slum-like household conditions with diarrhea was insignificant. These findings underscore the precarious urban living conditions and the need for targeted health interventions addressing the social determinants of health in urban settings.

Harnessing Big Data in the Animal Welfare Industry: Utilizing Data Science to Improve Regulatory Oversight of Commercial Dog Breeding

Introduction: In the age of Big Data, the animal welfare industry stands to benefit from data-driven decision making, particularly in commercial dog breeding. Despite its potential, many organizations and regulatory bodies, such as the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), face significant challenges in organizing and using it effectively. The existing challenges limit the extent to which the vast amount of data collected by the USDA can be used to improve regulatory oversight and promote animal welfare. This study explored the potential of leveraging publicly-available inspection report data to inform animal welfare standards and identify areas of improvement. Methods: We formulated an innovative approach for extracting, cleaning, and structuring data from the Public Search Tool (PST) database. Our approach involved the use of customized web-scraping tools and data manipulation techniques, including automatic data retrieval, transformation of inspection reports into a text-friendly format, and pattern recognition for collating pertinent data elements. We conducted descriptive statistical analyses on the assembled dataset to set the stage for a comprehensive exploration of inspection reports from Class ‘A’ commercial dog breeding facilities. Results: Our study produced an extensive dataset detailing compliance with animal welfare standards at Class ‘A’ commercial dog breeding facilities across the United States from 2014 to 2023. Preliminary analysis revealed prevalent areas of non-compliance, such as inadequate veterinary care and substandard housing conditions. The dataset facilitated a deep analysis of animal welfare practices within the commercial dog breeding industry, providing insights across geographical locations and facility sizes. Conclusion: Our study underscores the potential of harnessing Big Data to inform regulatory decisions and improve animal welfare within commercial dog breeding. It introduces a method to transform publicly available data into an accessible format. This allows us to go beyond anecdotal evidence into comprehensive assessments, facilitating constructive dialogue and effective policy-making. Further research leveraging advancements is recommended to deepen insights and encourage collaborative efforts to elevate animal welfare standards.

Inadequate Social Housing and Health: The Case of Oliver Bond House,The Liberties, Dublin.

Inadequate housing is an important social justice issue that adversely affects health. Drawing on an extended ethnography case study, this paper presents the results of a resident-led survey to highlight the health consequences of inadequate social housing, as residents wait for a 'fair regeneration' of their social housing 'flats' estate within a gentrifying inner-city Dublin neighbourhood. Four key concerns were identified by residents as part of this analysis: (1) substandard housing conditions which are physically harmful to health; (2) the emotional toll of an unsafe social environment; (3) lack of child friendly and community green spaces; and (4) constrained mobility due to inaccessible housing design. The results highlight the urgent need to place greater priority on the maintenance of the existing social housing stock and demonstrate the need for public housing policies that recognize the quality and quantity of adequate housing provision, where care is at the heart of housing policies. The paper also presents a novel 'City of Care' framework, following the need to develop an ethics of care within cities where public health, community wellbeing, solidarity, residents' empowerment, and social justice principles are at the forefront. Given that housing is an essential contributor to good health, it is now time for a joint public housing and public health agenda to create healthier homes by confronting the everyday impact of inadequate housing to tackle social inequalities more broadly.

Unplanned urbanization and health risks of Dhaka City in Bangladesh: uncovering the associations between urban environment and public health.

Dhaka City, the capital of Bangladesh, has experienced rapid and unplanned urbanization over the past few decades. This process has brought significant challenges to public health as the urban environment has become a breeding ground for various health risks. Understanding the associations between unplanned urbanization, the urban environment, and public health in Dhaka City is crucial for developing effective interventions and policies. This review paper aims to uncover the associations between unplanned urbanization and health risks in Dhaka City, with a specific focus on the urban environment and its impact on public health. The objectives of this study are to examine the health challenges faced by the city's population, explore the specific urban environmental factors contributing to health risks, analyze the socioeconomic determinants of health in unplanned urban areas, evaluate existing policies and governance structures, identify research and data gaps, and provide recommendations for future interventions. A comprehensive literature review was conducted to gather relevant studies, articles, reports, and policy documents related to unplanned urbanization, the urban environment, and public health in Dhaka City. Various databases and online resources were searched, and the selected literature was critically analyzed to extract key findings and insights. The findings reveal that unplanned urbanization in Dhaka City has led to a range of public health risks, including air pollution, inadequate water and sanitation, poor waste management, overcrowding, slums, and substandard housing conditions. These environmental factors are strongly associated with respiratory diseases, waterborne illnesses, and other adverse health outcomes. Socioeconomic determinants such as poverty, income inequality, and limited access to healthcare further exacerbate the health risks faced by the urban population. Unplanned urbanization in Dhaka City has significant implications for public health. Addressing the associations between unplanned urbanization, the urban environment, and public health requires comprehensive policies and interventions. Improved urban planning, enhanced infrastructure, and better policy governance are essential for mitigating health risks. Furthermore, addressing socioeconomic disparities and ensuring equitable access to healthcare services are crucial components of effective interventions.

Governance Networks and Accountability Patterns in the Provision of Housing for Migrants: The Case of Central and Eastern European Workers in the Netherlands

ABSTRACT Sub-standard living conditions among migrant workers have become a structural feature all over Europe. Although this has attracted the attention of many scholars, there is a lack of studies on the complex relations between various stakeholders in governing housing. This study fills this gap by analysing this housing issue from a governance network perspective. Through an analysis of policy documents and interviews with twenty-one stakeholders, we investigated institutional and strategic complexities. The results show that decision-making is complicated by unclear institutional accountability patterns and the diverging strategic interests of various stakeholders. The interrelationship between the loosely defined institutional setting (structure) and the varying interests of involved actors (agency) has led to a policy impasse that is difficult to breach. We argue that a reconsideration of existing accountability patterns is needed to reduce sub-standard housing conditions among migrant workers in the Netherlands.

Behind Gentrification’s Gloss

Policy and scholarly debates on gentrification have mainly focused on displacement or improvements to neighborhood amenities. Less attention has been paid to actively worsening conditions for residents who don’t leave and for whom poor housing conditions are a perverse consequence of gentrification. Mapping city data on apartment code violations, we find that substandard housing conditions are surprisingly concentrated in gentrifying areas and not just low-income neighborhoods. Drawing on ethnographic observations our research finds that in gentrification while bringing new amenities to neighborhoods, can also give strong incentives to landlords to mistreat tenants in an attempt to drive them out intentionally.

“Housing is such a major part of someone’s life”: mental health social work practice in the context of a housing affordability crisis

ABSTRACT It is well-known that people with psychiatric diagnoses experience disproportionate rates of homelessness. However, few studies have explored the perspectives and practices of mental health social workers in responding to clients experiencing homelessness. This article reports on findings from three focus groups with inpatient mental health social workers in Sydney, Australia. Three themes were identified: stuck in a crisis; reliance on sub-standard housing conditions; and pressures to discharge. The study reveals the challenges experienced by social workers in navigating scarce housing resources, and the limitations of a biomedical paradigm in failing to address the social determinants of mental distress.

Health and Poverty of Rural Children: An Under-Researched and Under-Resourced Vulnerable Population.

Nearly 1 in 5 children in the United States live in rural areas. Rural children experience health and health care disparities compared to their urban peers and represent a unique and vulnerable pediatric patient population. Important disparities exist in all-cause mortality, suicide, firearm-related unintentional injury, and obesity. Rural children experience decreased availability and accessibility of primary care and specialty care (especially mental health care) due to a decreased number of health care providers as well as geographical and transportation-related barriers. Other geographic and socioeconomic determinants, especially concerning poverty and substandard housing conditions, are likely important contributors to the observed health disparities. Increased funding for research focused on rural populations is needed to provide innovative solutions for the unique health needs of rural children. Policy changes positioned to correct the trajectory of poor health among children should consider the needs of rural children as an under-researched and under-resourced vulnerable population.

HEALTH AND HYGIENE RELATED PROBLEMS AMONG SLUM WOMEN

Slums are the areas of substandard housing conditions within a city .The United Nations defines the slum as ... a building, group of buildings or area characterized by overcrowding, deterioration, unsanitary conditions or absence of facilities or amenities which, because of these conditions or any of them in danger, the health, the safety or morals of its inhabitants or the community. Various terms such as 'blighted area', 'deteriorated areas', ' marginal areas', 'transitional areas', 'substandard settlement', 'provisional settlement', 'squatter settlement', 'overnight settlement', 'urban villages' etc. are very loosely used to denote slums. It has been found by number of researchers that due to poor economic and educational status, awareness regarding health and hygiene is found to be very poor among slum dwellers. Slums are very prone to unhygienic and unhealthy conditions because of their socio-ecological settings. Slum areas have been the breeding grounds of epidemics such as cholera, jaundice, hepatic disorder. Infectious diseases like tuberculosis, chest disease like asthma, lung cancer due to excessive use of tobacco, alcohol and spirit are very common. Abject poverty, social and economic deprivations, lack of essential food and nutrients and the unhygienic and contaminated water force them to live on the mercy of nature than on human resources. The water borne diseases like amoebiasis, helmenthiasis, diarrhoea, dysentery, viral hepatitis, and typhoid are very much common among them. Eighty to ninety percent of the slum inhabitants have no access to human waste disposal facilities. These conditions render the surroundings polluted and un conducive for human habitation resulting in environmental degradation. These slum dwellers are also not aware of small family norms. The size of their family is very large. Child marriages are prevalent among them. In spite of hard work by the women in slum, their condition is very bad. They have very low literacy rate and their economic condition is also not good. Most of the slum women get married at the age of 13 to 15 years. But the condition of unmarried girls is also far from satisfactory. They are treated as an unpaid worker who helps in cooking food, cleaning utensils and looking up their young brothers and sisters when the parents go to their work. Socially, these women's are very much deprived and engaged in anti-social work and are the easy victim of unhealthy physical as well as social environment.

Immigrant Communities and COVID-19: Strengthening the Public Health Response.

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the many broken fragments of US health care and social service systems, reinforcing extant health and socioeconomic inequities faced by structurally marginalized immigrant communities. Throughout the pandemic, even during the most critical period of rising cases in different epicenters, immigrants continued to work in high-risk-exposure environments while simultaneously having less access to health care and economic relief and facing discrimination. We describe systemic factors that have adversely affected low-income immigrants, including limiting their work opportunities to essential jobs, living in substandard housing conditions that do not allow for social distancing or space to safely isolate from others in the household, and policies that discourage access to public resources that are available to them or that make resources completely inaccessible. We demonstrate that the current public health infrastructure has not improved health care access or linkages to necessary services, treatments, or culturally competent health care providers, and we provide suggestions for how the Public Health 3.0 framework could advance this. We recommend the following strategies to improve the Public Health 3.0 public health infrastructure and mitigate widening disparities: (1) address the social determinants of health, (2) broaden engagement with stakeholders across multiple sectors, and (3) develop appropriate tools and technologies. (Am J Public Health. 2021;111(S3):S224-S231. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2021.306433).

Housing and asthma disparities

The burden of asthma disproportionately affects minority and low-income communities, resulting in racial and socioeconomic disparities in asthma prevalence, asthma exacerbations, and asthma-related death. Social determinants of health are increasingly implicated as root causes of disparities, and healthy housing is perhaps the most critical social determinant in asthma health disparities. In many minority communities, poor housing conditions and value are a legacy of historical policies and practices imbued with structural racism, including redlining, displacement, and exclusionary zoning. As a result, poor-quality, substandard housing is a characteristic feature of many underrepresented minority communities. Consequently, structurally deficient housing stock cultivates home environments rife with indoor asthma triggers. In this review we consider the historical context of urban housing policies and practices and how these policies and practices have contributed to the substandard housing conditions for many minoritized children in the present day. We describe the impact of poor housing quality on asthma and interventions that have attempted to mitigate its influence on asthma symptoms and health care utilization. We discuss the need to promote asthma health equity by reinvesting in these neighborhoods and communities to provide healthy housing.

Environmental burden of disease from unsafe and substandard housing, New Zealand, 2010-2017.

ObjectiveTo assess the burden of disease related to unsafe and substandard housing conditions in New Zealand from 2010 to 2017.MethodsWe focused on substandard housing conditions most relevant for New Zealand homes: crowding, cold, damp or mould, and injury hazards linked to falls. We estimated the population attributable fraction using existing estimates of the population exposed and exposure–response relationships of health disorders associated with each housing condition. We used government hospitalization data, no-fault accident insurance claims and mortality data to estimate the annual disease burden from the most severe cases, as well as the resulting costs to the public sector in New Zealand dollars (NZ$). Using value of a statistical life measures, we estimated the indirect cost of deaths.FindingsWe estimated that illnesses attributable to household crowding accounted for 806 nights in hospital annually; cold homes for 1834 hospital nights; and dampness and mould for 36 649 hospital nights. Home injury hazards resulted in 115 555 annual accident claims. We estimated that direct public sector costs attributable to these housing conditions were approximately NZ$ 141 million (100 million United States dollars, US$) annually. We also estimated a total of 229 deaths annually attributable to adverse housing and the costs to society from these deaths at around NZ$ 1 billion (US$ 715 million).ConclusionOf the conditions assessed in this study, damp and mouldy housing accounted for a substantial proportion of the burden of disease in New Zealand. Improving people’s living conditions could substantially reduce total hospitalization costs and potentially improve quality of life.

A study on community perception and risk reduction practices for dengue and malaria in field practice area of RHTC of JNUIMSRC, Jaipur- A cross-sectional study

: Globally, Vector Borne Diseases (VBDs) account for 17% of infectious disease burden. Among VBDs, malaria and dengue are major public health problems due to their endemic nature and at times presenting outbreaks, and socioeconomic effects of them. A recent estimate indicates 390 million dengue infections per year, of which 96 manifest clinically with any severity of disease. The number of reported cases have increased from 2.2 million in 2010 to 3.2 million in 2015. India, being the highest burden country in South East Asian region, showed a declining trend in malaria incidence in recent years and is now poised to continue its stride toward achieving malaria elimination target by 2030.From November 2019 to February 2020. People residing in field practice area of RHTC, JNUIMSRC, village Sindoli Jaipur. The study was done by a pre-designed, pre -tested, semi- structured interview schedule.In present study 88.4% heard about Malaria and Dengue, 46.37% were knowing all symptoms of these diseases, 83.69% know that it is transmitted by mosquito bite and 79.71% knew that water is their breeding site. 82.24% knew that water clogging is major cause of breeding. 65.57% believed that they are at risk of these diseases. 80.07% believed that clearing of water containers weekly will prevent breeding, 44.92% believe control activities a joint responsibility and 55.43% believe that public health persons should be allowed to inspect and spray. 54.71% believe sleeping under net prevent from malaria and Dengue. 83.69% practice environmental cleanliness to prevent these diseases. 37.68% respondent were drying their coolers when it was empty after use. 87.31% were using covered overhead tanks. 61.95% used to through coconut shells, egg shells and empty containers and used household water in discriminately.Rapid unplanned urbanization with the growth of substandard housing conditions, poor sanitation, and other anthropogenic environmental changes has made rural areas and urban slums more vulnerable to these diseases and unavailability of effective vaccines, resistance to anti-malarial and anti-dengue medicines has further worsen to the situation. For this problem public health experts require a deeper insights into existing community perceptions and practices and thereby helps in identifying the attributes that influence the community in adopting healthy practices and responsive behaviors, as regard Malaria and Dengue.

Community health workers providing asthma education

Objectives: Children living in urban areas experience disproportionate rates of asthma. Substandard housing conditions in some urban areas contribute to greater exposure to household asthma triggers. This article examines the geographic connection between pediatric asthma and substandard housing in one mid-sized city in Pennsylvania and the effectiveness of a home-based Community Health Worker (CHW) intervention targeted at this high-risk area to improve families’ abilities to manage their children’s asthma. Methods: The CHWs provided education and resources to families of children diagnosed with mild, moderate or severe persistent asthma. A pre and post-test design was implemented to evaluate if the CHW intervention improved the family’s ability to successfully manage their child’s asthma. Eighty-one patients completed the program over a six-month period. Results: Results showed significant improvements in the areas of asthma knowledge, fewer missed days of school, fewer days with asthma symptoms, reduction in wheezing and fewer sleep disturbances. There was also a significant decrease in the number of Emergency Department visits and hospital days. Conclusions: By teaching asthma management skills and by addressing in-home triggers, home-based CHW led interventions can be an affordable and effective way for caregivers and children with asthma to improve asthma management.

Female perspectives on housing quality and household characteristics, perceptions and challenges: Evidence from Australia

In many societies, perceptions regarding housing and ownership rights is that it is mostly consigned to males rather than females. Housing is gendered around physical aspects, as a financial asset, and even in housing data to be a male preserve – excluding females and their perceptions. This important paper addresses this limitation in the literature by examining the views and perceptions of female participants in the Australian Housing Conditions dataset. More specifically this paper examines the significance of household structure, housing quality and characteristics of Australian woman and how it affects their financial strain. As a further dimension this paper also examines differences in women’s housing experience by age as older Australian women (above 65 years) have a higher likelihood to revert to substandard housing conditions and homelessness than younger Australian women (under 65 years). Logistic regression analysis shows a higher tendency towards financial strain in women under 65 years, those with either poor physical or mental health and those who were single or lone parents. These finding propose that women under 65 are at greater risk to experience household financial strain and poorer housing security. The paper argues that these results present challenges for Australian housing policy through increasing housing affordability. The analysis suggests that an increase in the availability of affordable housing will ease the financial strain and improve the mental health of Australian women. Moreover, an increase in the flexibility of housing arrangements may prove to be beneficial in providing additional housing solutions.

Procedural environmental (in)justice at multiple scales: examining immigrant advocacy for improved living conditions

ABSTRACT Distributional injustices have been documented by many environmental justice scholars in recent years, while procedural justice issues remain less explored. For instance, immigrants and newcomers disproportionately experience substandard housing conditions and discrimination in the housing market, but few studies have examined how immigrant communities are seeking to improve their living conditions or engage in related governance and advocacy processes. Drawing upon interviews and focus groups with residents, community organisers and representatives from social service agencies in Rexdale, an inner suburb of Toronto, this paper examines how immigrants and newcomers are reacting or taking action to improve conditions in a high-rise neighbourhood at the scale of their housing units, high-rise buildings, and neighbourhood. Through a procedural justice lens, cumulative, multi-scale injustices experienced by immigrants and newcomers are revealed. Findings reveal obstacles and barriers that are preventing immigrants from engaging in advocacy and other means of improving their living conditions, in addition to opportunities for increasing newcomer participation in housing and neighbourhood improvement efforts.

Revisiting the relationship among housing tenure, affordability and mental health: Do dwelling conditions matter?

Despite growing attention to housing as a social determinant of health, few studies have featured the interplay of its diverse impacts on health. Using the Korea Welfare Panel Study, this study used logistic regression analysis for examining how housing tenure and affordability are associated with depressive symptoms under different physical dwelling conditions among low-income households in Korea. In our findings, renters, compared with homeowners, were more likely to report depressive symptoms, and housing unaffordability was associated with a higher likelihood of having depressive symptoms. When dwelling conditions were considered, housing tenancy, compared with ownership, tended to be associated with depressive symptoms among adequate housing dwellers, whereas housing unaffordability was associated with depressive symptoms mainly among those living in substandard housing conditions. The findings suggest that the linkage of multiple housing problems to psychological well-being is dynamic. Public health policies and housing subsidy programs should, therefore, be designed based on a comprehensive account of not only tenure or income status, but also dwelling conditions.

Foundational stigma: Place-based stigma in the age before advanced marginality.

This paper joins the debate on the formation of territorial stigma by uncovering the existence of a form of "foundational stigma" that preceded place-based stigma of the era of advanced marginality. I show that not only were the traces of stigma present prior to the era of advanced marginality but that these early traces facilitate later forms of stigma by providing the necessary foundations upon which adhesive and detrimental stigma was operationalized. Following a critical discourse analysis approach, this paper examines coverage in the British press of Toxteth, Liverpool between 1900 and 1981 as a paradigmatic case study to show that this primitive stigma existed in three key ways: relating to inter-community strife, to crime, and to substandard housing conditions. These traces of stigma laid the foundations for later forms of stigma based on the presence of the poor, violent, deviant other that would be operationalized by dominant voices during the era of advanced marginality.

Image based classification of slums, built-up and non-built-up areas in Kalyan and Bangalore, India

ABSTRACT Slums, characterized by sub-standard housing conditions, are a common in fast growing Asian cities. However, reliable and up-to-date information on their locations and development dynamics is scarce. Despite numerous studies, the task of delineating slum areas remains a challenge and no general agreement exists about the most suitable method for detecting or assessing detection performance. In this paper, standard computer vision methods – Bag of Visual Words framework and Speeded-Up Robust Features have been applied for image-based classification of slum and non-slum areas in Kalyan and Bangalore, India, using very high resolution RGB images. To delineate slum areas, image segmentation is performed as pixel-level classification for three classes: Slums, Built-up and Non-Built-up. For each of the three classes, image tiles were randomly selected using ground truth observations. A multi-class support vector machine classifier has been trained on 80% of the tiles and the remaining 20% were used for testing. The final image segmentation has been obtained by classification of every 10th pixel followed by a majority filtering assigning classes to all remaining pixels. The results demonstrate the ability of the method to map slums with very different visual characteristics in two very different Indian cities.