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Definition
Residential environment?
Lay Understanding
A physical structure where a person lives; It is a
Residential Environment shelter
Public Health Expert’s view
A physical structure and its environment that human
uses for his social, physical, and mental well-being
Fundamental need: accessing decent home and
suitable environment.
It has mental, social, economical values
Introduction History
“Everyone has the right to standard of living 1842- Chadwick established link between living
adequate for the health and well being of himself conditions of the poor and ill health
and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and Most of health gains stem from public health
medical care”. measures:
Clean water
Sanitation
Source: The universal declaration of human rights
Improved accommodation
1854- John Snow and Broad street cholera
outbreak
Housing … Housing…
Inadequate housing conditions expose people to physical, Poor housing prevail or may be aggravated as a result
chemical and biological hazards, and to various adverse of:
psychological and social factors. Lack of awareness (education)
Poor design and construction of the house
The level of hygiene in the dwelling is another environmental
Inadequate illumination and ventilation
factor that should never be neglected especially for those who
Lack of maintenance
spend most of the time indoors, such as infants, young children,
Due to poor house keeping practices.
the elderly, and handicapped.
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The vicious circle of poverty, ignorance and disease
Definition cont’d
Basic housing principles
Ignorance [Link] physiological needs
[Link] against diseases
The vicious circle of poverty, ignorance, and disease [Link] against accidents
[Link] needs
Poverty
(poor housing) Categories: standard, substandard, slum area
disease
Link between poor housing and health
Health importance
Poor housing can cause poor health Poor heating, ventilation, increased respiratory infection
Poor health can also worse housing
Mold: respiratory problems, asthma, allergies, eczema
Increased infection: diarrhea, typhoid, typhus fever, etc
Indoor pollutants and infestation: asthma
Increased infestation
Overcrowding: increased risk of infectious disease
Increased accidents
Affects mental well-being, depression and Stress
Mental stress Unsafe outside, unhealthy inside
Measuring the quality of housing Measuring the quality of housing…
Dwellings having four or more of the following basic deficiencies Lack of dual egress (doors for emergency exits)
are considered to be an extreme slum. Lack of installed electricity.
Having inadequate and contaminated water supply.
Rooms lacking windows for light and ventilation.
Lack of waste disposal facilities.
Lack toilets or space to construct an excreta disposal facility.
Having problems of arthropods and rodents.
Lacks bathing facility inside or outside the structure. Lacks proper drainage.
More than 1.5 persons per habitable room. Lack of open spaces, pathways, and all weather roads
between individual structures and etc.
Overcrowding of sleeping rooms (less than 3.6 meter squares of Serious deteriorations.
sleeping area per person).
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Housing problems Housing indicators continued
Problem assessment, M & E indicators
Physical measurements: crowding
Prevention of diseases: water, sanitation, etc
Accessing to facilities: water, latrine, etc
Physical comfort: lighting, space,
Microclimate: illumination, temperature, etc
Accident prevention: structural stability
Data sources:
Psycho-social comfort: accessibility to social services
–Census
Most studied: first 2 indicators
–Survey
Crowding status Monitoring & Evaluation housing
Butajira:
Application of housing codes: nuisance, fire, building,
20-30 % of housing units are severely crowded health codes
– Space and # of rooms (Occupancy)
95% of “Tukuls” used for habitation had one room space
– Availability of Sanitation facilities (facilities)
89.9% no window – Indoor climate: lighting, ventilation, heat comfort, moistures,
89.9% no kitchen – Structural safety
– Structural maintenance
95.3% not latrine – Hazardous installation (electricity, plumbing, fire detectors,
“Same condition in the Rural Dabat area Health Project” etc)