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

Abstract

Rapid migration of people to the urban areas of developing countries resulted in a \nshortage of housing and the location of people in poor housing and unhealthy \nenvironments. Studies have shown that people who live in poor housing are at increased \nrisk of exposure to the determinants of respiratory diseases. \nObjective: This study investigated the influence of housing conditions on respiratory \ndisease in selected low cost housing settlements in Johannesburg, South Africa. \nMethodology: Secondary data analysis based on the Health, Environment and \nDevelopment (HEAD) cross-sectional study were used to explore housing conditions in \nrelation to respiratory health. \nResults: Black African households comprised (77%) the major population group in the \nstudy. The overall mean number of people per household was five with household size \nranging from 1 to 22 people permanently living in the household. Most of the households \n(48%) had an average monthly income of R1001 to R2000. The self reported household \nprevalence of asthma was highest among households in Riverlea (21%). Households in \nRiverlea had reported higher levels of asthma 33% relative to households in Bertrams. \nHairdressing 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 – \n0.99) and smoking (OR 0.4 CI 0.12 - 0.96) in the univariate analysis. However in the \nmultivariate analysis there was no significant association between tuberculosis with \nhousehold size (OR 0.92, 95% CI 0.80 - 1.05) or smoking (OR 0.03, 95% CI 0.12 – \n1.00). Conclusion: In this study housing quality was an important determinant of respiratory \nhealth. More intervention strategies need to be employed to improve the living \nenvironment. These include increasing awareness and education to the public and other \nsectors, source reduction and more guidelines for healthy housing. Finally, more research \non housing and health is needed to determine the effect of housing on health.

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