Health Hazards of Poor Housing and Ventilation;- Numerous illnesses, such as respiratory infections, asthma, lead poisoning, injuries, and mental health issues are linked to poor housing conditions. Public health professionals have a chance to address a significant socioeconomic determinant of health by addressing housing concerns.
Health Hazards of Poor Housing and Ventilation
Housing conditions play a crucial role in the control of many diseases, especially in the transmission of communicable diseases
House can both protect and facilitate diseases
Definition of terms
- House – The usual dwelling place of the family
- Housing– The enclosed and adjoining open space and all structural components making up those spaces
- Healthful housing– Housing which permits individuals of all ages to conduct usual household activities without putting excessive burden upon any organ of the body
Basic requirements for a house
- Adequately shelters people from heat, cold, damp, animals, insects and invaders
- Able to be kept in good repair
- Adequate elevation, ventilation and water supply
- Adequate size and spacing for occupant(s)
- Good drainage
- Space for preparation, cooking and storage of food
- Room for fuel storage
- Adequate means to dispose of refuse and human waste
- Proximity to roads, neighbours and other centres of population
- Good natural and artificial lighting
Health hazards of poor housing
- A combination of dampness, lack of light, poor ventilation and overcrowding will contribute to the spread of airborne droplet infection
- A dirt floor and walls and unscreened windows permit the entry and breeding of flies, bedbugs and mosquitoes which contributes to the spread of vector-borne diseases
- Cooking fires placed on the floor are hazardous to small children
- A range of social problems may be associated with poor housing and living conditions including depression and alcohol abuse
- Excessive noise and overcrowding has an influence on mental disorders
- Crowded, cramped housing conditions facilitate the spread of airborne (communicable) infections such as measles and tuberculosis
- The use of dirty household fuels for cooking and heating can cause respiratory problems
- Dirty water and poor sanitation are associated with numerous illnesses.
Types of Ventilation
Definition of Ventilation
- The process of removing polluted, stale, moisture laden, indoor air and replacing it with fresh outdoor (often dryer) air
Types of Ventilation
- Natural ventilation – Natural movement of air entering and leaving openings such as windows, doors, and roof ventilators as well as through cracks and crevices of buildings
Types of natural ventilation
- Through ventilation – Windows placed on opposite sides of house, air enters in one window and leaves through the other window
Cross ventilation – One window is provided and the other window is provided adjacent, air enters and leaves through the adjacent window
- Back to back ventilation – Window is placed only on one side of the wall, Air enters and leaves in the same window. This type of ventilation is not recommended in public health
- Mechanical ventilation– The movement of air by mechanical means
- Wall fan and air conditioning units are examples of mechanical ventilation
Importance of Good Ventilation
- Good ventilation provides enough air (oxygen) required for normal physiological function in the body
- Proper ventilation prevents air pollutants from affecting the health of an individual
- Good ventilation helps in removing unwanted smells, such as from cooking or pets
- Ventilation controls how much moisture is lingering in a house, and helps a house stay dry
- Moisture can cause mold to build up; which in turn can cause various diseases
Key Points
- Poor housing contribute to diseases in humans
- There are two major types of ventilations; natural and mechanical
- Proper ventilation is important for good health
References
- Nyamwaya, D. (1994): A Guide to Health Promotion through Water and Sanitation, Nairobi: AMREF
- Salvato, J.A. (1982). Environmental Engineering and Sanitation (3rded). New
- York: John Wiley and Sons
- Wood C. H., Vaughan JP., & de Glanville H. (1997). Community Health (2nded). Nairobi: AMREF