IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v17y2020i16p5946-d399675.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Prioritising Housing Maintenance to Improve Health in Indigenous Communities in NSW over 20 years

Author

Listed:
  • Jeffrey C. Standen

    (Health Protection NSW, St Leonards NSW 2065, Australia
    School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown NSW 2006, Australia)

  • Geoffrey G. Morgan

    (School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown NSW 2006, Australia
    University Centre for Rural Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Lismore NSW 2480, Australia)

  • Tim Sowerbutts

    (Q Social Research Consultants Pty Ltd., Broadway NSW 2007, Australia)

  • Katrina Blazek

    (NSW Ministry of Health, St Leonards NSW 2065, Australia)

  • Jessica Gugusheff

    (NSW Ministry of Health, St Leonards NSW 2065, Australia)

  • Otto Puntsag

    (Health Protection NSW, St Leonards NSW 2065, Australia)

  • Michael Wollan

    (NSW Ministry of Health, St Leonards NSW 2065, Australia)

  • Paul Torzillo

    (School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown NSW 2006, Australia)

Abstract

Many studies document the relationship between housing quality and health status. Poor housing in Aboriginal communities continues to be linked to the compromised health status of Aboriginal Australians. The New South Wales (NSW) Housing for Health (HfH) program has been assessing and repairing Aboriginal community housing across the state for 20 years using a standardised intervention methodology that aims to improve the health of Aboriginal people in NSW by improving their living environments. Items are tested and repairs are prioritised to maximise safety and health benefits and measured against 11 Critical Healthy Living Priorities (e.g., safety, facilities for washing people and clothes, removing waste and preparing food). Descriptive analysis of data collected pre- and post-intervention from 3670 houses was conducted to determine the effectiveness of the program. Analysis demonstrated statistically significant improvements in the ability of the houses to support safe and healthy living for all critical healthy living priorities post-interventions. Trend analysis demonstrated the magnitude of these improvements increased over 20 years. In 24 communities ( n = 802 houses) where projects were repeated (5–17 years later), results indicate sustainability of improvements for 9 of 11 priorities. However, the overall condition of health-related hardware in Aboriginal community housing across NSW pre-intervention has not significantly changed during the program’s 20 years. Results suggest a systematic lack of routine maintenance and quality control continues to be the overwhelming cause for this lack of improvement pre-intervention. Our evaluation of the HfH program demonstrated that fidelity to a standardised housing testing and repair methodology to improve residents’ safety and health can have sustainable effects on housing infrastructure and associated health benefits, such as a 40% reduction in infectious disease hospital separations. Housing and health agencies should collaborate more closely on social housing programs and ensure programs are adequately resourced to address safety and health issues.

Suggested Citation

  • Jeffrey C. Standen & Geoffrey G. Morgan & Tim Sowerbutts & Katrina Blazek & Jessica Gugusheff & Otto Puntsag & Michael Wollan & Paul Torzillo, 2020. "Prioritising Housing Maintenance to Improve Health in Indigenous Communities in NSW over 20 years," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-22, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:16:p:5946-:d:399675
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/16/5946/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/16/5946/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Thomson, H. & Thomas, S. & Sellstrom, E. & Petticrew, M., 2009. "The health impacts of housing improvement: a systematic review of intervention studies from 1887 to 2007," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 99, pages 681-692.
    2. Michael Fletcher & Ben Guttermann, 2013. "Income Inequality in Australia," Economic Roundup, The Treasury, Australian Government, issue 2, pages 35-56, December.
    3. Colton, M.D. & Laurent, J.G.C. & MacNaughton, P. & Kane, J. & Bennett-Fripp, M. & Spengler, J. & Adamkiewicz, G., 2015. "Health benefits of green public housing: Associations with asthma morbidity and building-related symptoms," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 105(12), pages 2482-2489.
    4. Lucy Telfar-Barnard & Julie Bennett & Philippa Howden-Chapman & David E. Jacobs & David Ormandy & Matthew Cutler-Welsh & Nicholas Preval & Michael G. Baker & Michael Keall, 2017. "Measuring the Effect of Housing Quality Interventions: The Case of the New Zealand “Rental Warrant of Fitness”," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-13, November.
    5. Bonnefoy, X.R. & Braubach, M. & Moissonnier, B. & Monolbaev, K. & Röbbel, N., 2003. "Housing and Health in Europe: Preliminary Results of a Pan-European Study," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 93(9), pages 1559-1563.
    6. Eric C Strunz & David G Addiss & Meredith E Stocks & Stephanie Ogden & Jürg Utzinger & Matthew C Freeman, 2014. "Water, Sanitation, Hygiene, and Soil-Transmitted Helminth Infection: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(3), pages 1-38, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Nina Lansbury & Paul C. Memmott & Rosemary Wyber & Clarissa Burgen & Samuel K. Barnes & Jessica Daw & Jeffrey Cannon & Asha C. Bowen & Rachel Burgess & Patricia N. Frank & Andrew M. Redmond, 2024. "Housing Initiatives to Address Strep A Infections and Reduce RHD Risks in Remote Indigenous Communities in Australia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(9), pages 1-14, September.
    2. Jeffrey C. Standen & Jessica Spencer & Grace W. Lee & Joe Van Buskirk & Veronica Matthews & Ivan Hanigan & Sinead Boylan & Edward Jegasothy & Matilde Breth-Petersen & Geoffrey G. Morgan, 2022. "Aboriginal Population and Climate Change in Australia: Implications for Health and Adaptation Planning," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-30, June.
    3. Romany McGuffog & Jamie Bryant & Kade Booth & Felicity Collis & Alex Brown & Jaquelyne T. Hughes & Catherine Chamberlain & Alexandra McGhie & Breanne Hobden & Michelle Kennedy, 2023. "Exploring the Reported Strengths and Limitations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Research: A Narrative Review of Intervention Studies," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-21, February.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Emma Baker & Andrew Beer & Laurence Lester & David Pevalin & Christine Whitehead & Rebecca Bentley, 2017. "Is Housing a Health Insult?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-18, May.
    2. Ziersch, Anna & Due, Clemence, 2018. "A mixed methods systematic review of studies examining the relationship between housing and health for people from refugee and asylum seeking backgrounds," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 213(C), pages 199-219.
    3. Richard A. Sharpe & Tim Taylor & Lora E. Fleming & Karyn Morrissey & George Morris & Rachel Wigglesworth, 2018. "Making the Case for “Whole System” Approaches: Integrating Public Health and Housing," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-22, October.
    4. Giorgia Silvestri & Julia M. Wittmayer & Karlijn Schipper & Robinah Kulabako & Sampson Oduro-Kwarteng & Philip Nyenje & Hans Komakech & Roel Van Raak, 2018. "Transition Management for Improving the Sustainability of WASH Services in Informal Settlements in Sub-Saharan Africa—An Exploration," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-19, November.
    5. Lijian Xie & Suhong Zhou & Lin Zhang, 2021. "Associations between Objective and Subjective Housing Status with Individual Mental Health in Guangzhou, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-14, January.
    6. Mitsunori Odagiri & Zainal Muhammad & Aidan A. Cronin & Michael E. Gnilo & Aldy K. Mardikanto & Khaerul Umam & Yameha T. Asamou, 2017. "Enabling Factors for Sustaining Open Defecation-Free Communities in Rural Indonesia: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-20, December.
    7. Peter J Hotez & Serap Aksoy & Paul J Brindley & Shaden Kamhawi, 2020. "World neglected tropical diseases day," PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(1), pages 1-4, January.
    8. Antonio Millán-Jiménez & Rafael Herrera-Limones & Álvaro López-Escamilla & Emma López-Rubio & Miguel Torres-García, 2021. "Confinement, Comfort and Health: Analysis of the Real Influence of Lockdown on University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-15, May.
    9. Emmy De Buck & Hans Van Remoortel & Karin Hannes & Thashlin Govender & Selvan Naidoo & Bert Avau & Axel Vande Veegaete & Alfred Musekiwa & Vittoria Lutje & Margaret Cargo & Hans‐Joachim Mosler & Phili, 2017. "Approaches to promote handwashing and sanitation behaviour change in low‐ and middle‐income countries: a mixed method systematic review," Campbell Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 13(1), pages 1-447.
    10. Carly Magee & Monica Norena & Anita M. Hubley & Anita Palepu & Stephen W. Hwang & Rosane Nisenbaum & Mohammad Ehsanul Karim & Anne Gadermann, 2019. "Longitudinal Associations between Perceived Quality of Living Spaces and Health-Related Quality of Life among Homeless and Vulnerably Housed Individuals Living in Three Canadian Cities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-12, November.
    11. Greg Kaplan & Gianni La Cava & Tahlee Stone, 2018. "Household Economic Inequality in Australia," The Economic Record, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 94(305), pages 117-134, June.
    12. Marjorie Chinen & Thomas de Hoop & María Balarin & Lorena Alcázar, 2016. "PROTOCOL: Vocational and business training to increase women's participation in higher skilled occupations in low‐ and middle‐income countries: protocol for a systematic review," Campbell Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 12(1), pages 1-46.
    13. Alireza Motaghifard & Manouchehr Omidvari & Abolfazl Kazemi, 2023. "Forecasting of safe-green buildings using decision tree algorithm: data mining approach," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(9), pages 10323-10350, September.
    14. Mitsuaki Hirai & Jay P. Graham & Kay D. Mattson & Andrea Kelsey & Supriya Mukherji & Aidan A. Cronin, 2016. "Exploring Determinants of Handwashing with Soap in Indonesia: A Quantitative Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-15, September.
    15. Lisa Coulburn & Wendy Miller, 2022. "Prevalence, Risk Factors and Impacts Related to Mould-Affected Housing: An Australian Integrative Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-26, February.
    16. Donner, Herman & Kulander, Maria, 2024. "Analyzing the relationship between housing and social engagement among the elderly," Working Paper Series 24/1, Royal Institute of Technology, Department of Real Estate and Construction Management & Banking and Finance.
    17. Paola A. Torres-Slimming & Carlee Wright & Cesar P. Carcamo & Patricia J. Garcia & IHACC Research Team & Sherilee L. Harper, 2019. "Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals: A Mixed Methods Study of Health-Related Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) for Indigenous Shawi in the Peruvian Amazon," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-17, July.
    18. Carolin Schmidt, 2018. "Home is where the health is: Housing and adult height from the late 19th to the mid-20th centuries," ERES eres2018_33, European Real Estate Society (ERES).
    19. Mark Westcott & John Murray, 2017. "Financialisation and inequality in Australia," The Economic and Labour Relations Review, , vol. 28(4), pages 519-537, December.
    20. Rafael Herrera-Limones & Antonio Millán-Jiménez & Álvaro López-Escamilla & Miguel Torres-García, 2020. "Health and Habitability in the Solar Decathlon University Competitions: Statistical Quantification and Real Influence on Comfort Conditions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-25, August.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:16:p:5946-:d:399675. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.