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Healthy-Sustainable Housing Index: A Pilot Study to Link Architecture and Public Health in a Semi-Urban Community in Mexico

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  • Pamela Zúñiga-Bello

    (Environmental Health Department, Center for Population Health Research, National Institute of Public Health, Av. Universidad 655, Col. Santa Ma. Ahuacatitlán, Cuernavaca 62100, Mexico)

  • Astrid Schilmann

    (Environmental Health Department, Center for Population Health Research, National Institute of Public Health, Av. Universidad 655, Col. Santa Ma. Ahuacatitlán, Cuernavaca 62100, Mexico)

  • Eunice Félix-Arellano

    (Environmental Health Department, Center for Population Health Research, National Institute of Public Health, Av. Universidad 655, Col. Santa Ma. Ahuacatitlán, Cuernavaca 62100, Mexico)

  • Gerardo Gama-Hernández

    (Urbanism academy, Faculty of Architecture, Autonomous University of Morelos, Av. Universidad 1001, Col. Chamilpa, Cuernavaca 62209, Mexico)

  • Urinda Alamo-Hernández

    (Environmental Health Department, Center for Population Health Research, National Institute of Public Health, Av. Universidad 655, Col. Santa Ma. Ahuacatitlán, Cuernavaca 62100, Mexico)

Abstract

The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the link between housing and children´s respiratory symptoms, through the construction of an index (HSHI) based on the definition of healthy-sustainable housing criteria, in a semi-urban community from Morelos, Mexico. A general and household questionnaire, and respiratory symptoms diary were applied in 60 households to gather information about schoolchildren, respiratory health, housing and lifestyle characteristics. HSHI was constructed using principal component analysis. The association between HSHI and the presence and duration of respiratory symptoms was assessed using logistic and Poisson regression models. HSHI had five components, which accounted for 63% of variance, and were classified into poor and sufficient quality. It was observed that schoolchildren who inhabit a sufficient-quality house, showed a reduction in nose irritation duration and in the allergic symptoms probability regarding component 1 (ventilation, lighting and cloth washing) and presented three times less duration of common cold by component 2 (construction material, painted walls inside the house and type of bathroom) compared to poor-quality house inhabitants. Our results suggest that living in a sufficient-quality house, as described by the HSHI, reduced the prevalence of wheezing episodes and the probability of ear pain, providing evidence about the positive association of a healthy-sustainable housing on the respiratory health of schoolchildren.

Suggested Citation

  • Pamela Zúñiga-Bello & Astrid Schilmann & Eunice Félix-Arellano & Gerardo Gama-Hernández & Urinda Alamo-Hernández, 2019. "Healthy-Sustainable Housing Index: A Pilot Study to Link Architecture and Public Health in a Semi-Urban Community in Mexico," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-16, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:3:p:295-:d:199732
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Quandt, S.A. & Wiggins, M.F. & Chen, H. & Bischoff, W.E. & Arcury, T.A., 2013. "Heat index in migrant farmworker housing: Implications for rest and recovery from work-related heat stress," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 103(8), pages 24-26.
    2. Paulina Farías & Urinda Álamo-Hernández & Leonardo Mancilla-Sánchez & José Luis Texcalac-Sangrador & Leticia Carrizales-Yáez & Horacio Riojas-Rodríguez, 2014. "Lead in School Children from Morelos, Mexico: Levels, Sources and Feasible Interventions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-15, December.
    3. Spengler, J.D. & Jaakkola, J.J.K. & Parise, H. & Katsnelson, B.A. & Privalova, L.I. & Kosheleva, A.A., 2004. "Housing Characteristics and Children's Respiratory Health in the Russian Federation," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 94(4), pages 657-662.
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    Cited by:

    1. Fijalkow, Yankel & Wilson, Yaneira, 2023. "Health literacy: another way of measuring housing quality," SocArXiv jfum5, Center for Open Science.

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