Housing and Health: An Analysis for Use in the Planning, Design, and Evaluation of Low-Income Housing Programs

摘要

To establish a framework to monitor the health effects of A.I.D.'s Housing Guaranty program, existing literature on the health effects of low-income housing solutions in developing countries is reviewed in this report. A major finding is that in the absence of other improvements in the socioeconomic status of residents, housing by itself may not significantly affect health status. An introductory section defines the terms health and housing and provides generalizations about their interrelationship. Discussion is then given to the connection between specific planning and design characteristics and specific diseases and pathological conditions. The discussion covers water, sanitation, and excreta removal facilities; general housing standards (space, temperature, ventilation, and illumination); food preparation and household storage; construction materials; home gardens and livestock raising; the physical planning of immediate surroundings; and general land-use planning. Priority linkages in the housing/health domain are explored next, followed by an assessment of the Housing Guaranty program and a strategy to evaluate the relationship between housing and health. A case study of a home garden as a health-related housing intervention concludes the report.