Knowledge gaps in the construction of rural healthy homes: A research agenda for improved low-cost housing in hot-humid Africa

Abstract

points• The population of Africa is projected to increase 3-fold before 2100.Enormous resources will be required to construct houses for the predicted additional 2.5 billion new inhabitants (alongside provision of food, education, medical care, and other essentials).• This population growth presents an opportunity to incorporate housing concepts that can improve health and well-being.• Well-designed houses should provide thermal comfort and a barrier to separate diseasecarrying vectors from residents, decrease indoor pollution, and incorporate water supply, sanitation, electricity, and security.• We identified the following research priority areas: optimal building shape, roofing, vector barriers, cladding, water supply, sanitation, kitchen design, electricity supply, rural to periurban housing, and user acceptability.• Improved housing incorporating novel design elements tailored to local environments in the hot-humid regions of Africa will require investments that could come through innovative financing mechanisms for residential property.Better housing will promote well-being and health and play a critical role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

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