Get started
Work

Ambiente residencial e saúde respiratória infantil em famílias removidas de assentamentos precários da região de Santiago do Chile

Year: 2011
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Housing interventions aimed at overcoming poverty modify the residential environment and can potentially affect the health of the groups intervened upon. In the metropolitan region of Chile 113 communities with grave habitability issues were identified in 1997 and intervened upon via the provision of new housing. There are few completed studies that aim to estimate the impact of such interventions on the health of residents, though there is scientific evidence regarding the relevance of physical conditions of the in respiratory illness in children. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a housing program on environmental quality in the household and on respiratory issues in residents among subgroups of families in public housing and slums. We completed a cross-sectional study in 212 household in the metropolitan region of Chile. 60.4% of the residents were recruited from social during 2001-2002 by the Chile-Barrio Program and 39.6% of the families were recruited from slums the same area. We administered a questionnaire in order to characterize the socioeconomic conditions of the family groups and to collect information on personal and familial risk factors for respiratory illness. We also evaluated various aspects of the environmental quality within the families' homes including: concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and sources associated with air contamination within the home. We found differences between the study populations with regard to the concentration of fine particulate matter and various sources of contamination. The indoor PM2.5 was strongly associated with the exterior PM2.5 and with the use of solid fuels to heat bathwater. The prevalence of wheezing and its severity were the same between groups. Wheezing was associated with risk factors for asthma, especially the use of gas as fuel. This study provides evidence for the potential effects of housing interventions and externalities that have not been described before. The results provide guidance for specific areas of environmental health that need to be addressed within these communities through research and public health action.
Language: Portuguese
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2518807263
Cites: 163
Cited by:
Related to: 10