Housing-related risk factors for respiratory disease in low cost housing settlements in Johannesburg, South Africa

摘要

Rapid migration of people to the urban areas of developing countries resulted in audshortage of housing and the location of people in poor housing and unhealthyudenvironments. Studies have shown that people who live in poor housing are at increasedudrisk of exposure to the determinants of respiratory diseases.udObjective: This study investigated the influence of housing conditions on respiratoryuddisease in selected low cost housing settlements in Johannesburg, South Africa.udMethodology: Secondary data analysis based on the Health, Environment andudDevelopment (HEAD) cross-sectional study were used to explore housing conditions inudrelation to respiratory health.udResults: Black African households comprised (77%) the major population group in theudstudy. The overall mean number of people per household was five with household sizeudranging from 1 to 22 people permanently living in the household. Most of the householdsud(48%) had an average monthly income of R1001 to R2000. The self reported householdudprevalence of asthma was highest among households in Riverlea (21%). Households inudRiverlea had reported higher levels of asthma 33% relative to households in Bertrams.udHairdressing activities within dwellings increased the risk of asthma (OR: 2.89, 95% CI 1.46-5.73). Tuberculosis was associated with household size (OR 0.9, 95% CI 0.79 –ud0.99) and smoking (OR 0.4 CI 0.12 - 0.96) in the univariate analysis. However in theudmultivariate analysis there was no significant association between tuberculosis withudhousehold size (OR 0.92, 95% CI 0.80 - 1.05) or smoking (OR 0.03, 95% CI 0.12 –ud1.00). Conclusion: In this study housing quality was an important determinant of respiratoryudhealth. More intervention strategies need to be employed to improve the livingudenvironment. These include increasing awareness and education to the public and otherudsectors, source reduction and more guidelines for healthy housing. Finally, more researchudon housing and health is needed to determine the effect of housing on health.