Evaluating Housing Health Hazards: Prevalence, Practices and Priorities in Delhi's Informal Settlements

Nix, Emily ORCID: 0000-0003-3331-2046, Paulose, Jacob, Shrubsole, Clive, Altamirano-Medina, Hector, Davies, Michael, Khosla, Renu, Belesova, Kristine and Wilkinson, Paul (2020) Evaluating Housing Health Hazards: Prevalence, Practices and Priorities in Delhi's Informal Settlements. JOURNAL OF URBAN HEALTH-BULLETIN OF THE NEW YORK ACADEMY OF MEDICINE, 97 (4). pp. 502-518.

Access the full-text of this item by clicking on the Open Access link.

Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11524-020-00442-w

Abstract

Housing quality is crucially linked to health and sustainability goals, yet there is limited research on informal housing and settlements where housing quality is poor, and the health risks are expected to be greatest. This paper describes the investigation of housing conditions in a low-income resettlement colony in Delhi. A novel transdisciplinary methodology to evaluate multiple housing health hazards and establish intervention priorities in participation with the community was developed. Findings from housing surveys and indoor environmental monitoring were contrasted with a participatory self-assessment-revealing the widespread prevalence of hazards and suboptimal housing conditions as well as substantial differences in priorities, and thus perspectives, between participants and researchers. Focus group discussions explored the findings and built consensus on priorities. Our findings uncovered how poor housing conditions affect daily practices and thus are likely to adversely affect socio-economic development and gender equality. We highlight limitations in current frameworks to assess housing hazards and argue that a transdisciplinary approach is vital to provide a holistic understanding and to develop effective interventions. These insights are crucial to inform inclusive solutions for adequate housing and human settlements that can support improved health and help achieve the sustainable development goals.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Housing, Health hazards, Participatory approach, Informal settlements, Community priorities
Divisions:	Faculty of Health and Life Sciences Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Institute of Population Health
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	23 Jul 2021 10:09
Last Modified:	18 Jan 2023 21:35
DOI:	10.1007/s11524-020-00442-w
Open Access URL:	https://doi.org/10.1007/s11524-020-00442-w
Related URLs:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3131037