Characterization of Healthy Housing in Africa: Method, Profiles, and Determinants
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Date
2022
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Journal of Urban Health
Abstract
Housing is a key social determinant of
health, with implications for both physical and mental health. The measurement of healthy housing and
studies characterizing the same in sub-Saharan Africa
(SSA) are uncommon. This study described a methodological approach employed in the assessment and
characterization of healthy housing in SSA using the
Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data for 15
countries and explored healthy housing determinants
using a multiple survey-weighted logistic regression
analysis. For all countries, we demonstrated that the
healthy housing index developed using factor analysis
reasonably satisfied with both reliability and validity tests
and can therefore be used to describe the distribution of healthy housing across different groups and
in understanding the linkage with individual health
outcomes. We infer from the results that unhealthy
housing remains quite high in most SSA countries.
Having a male head of household was associated with decreased odds of healthy housing in Burkina Faso (OR = 0.80, CI = 0.68–0.95), Cameroon
(OR=0.65, CI=0.57, 0.76), Malawi (OR=0.70, CI=0.64–0.78), and Senegal (OR=0.62, CI=0.51–
0.74). Further, increasing household size was associated with reducing odds of healthy housing in Kenya
(OR=0.53, CI=0.44–0.65), Namibia (OR=0.34,
CI=0.24–0.48), Nigeria (OR=0.57, CI=0.46–0.71),
and Uganda (OR=0.79, CI=0.67–0.94). Across
In all countries, household wealth was a strong deterrent of healthy housing, with middle and rich
households having higher odds of residing in healthy
homes compared to poor households. Odds ratios
ranged from 3.63 (CI = 2.96–4.44) for households
in the middle wealth group in the DRC to 2812.2
(CI = 1634.8–4837.7) in Namibia’s wealthiest households. For other factors, the analysis also showed variation across countries. Our findings provide timely
insights for the implementation of housing policies
across SSA countries, drawing attention to aspects
of housing that would promote occupant health and
wellbeing. Beyond the contribution to the measurement of healthy housing in SSA, our paper highlights
key policy and program issues that need further investigation in the search for pathways to addressing the
healthy housing demand across most SSA countries.
This has become critical amid the COVID-19 pandemic, where access to healthy housing is pivotal in
its control.
Description
Research Article
Keywords
Housing, Determinants, Africa