Effects of Improved Housing on Illness in Children Under 5 Years Old in Northern Malawi

Effects of Improved Housing on Illness in Children Under 5 Years Old in Northern Malawi: Cross-Sectional Study. BMJ 2001; 322:1209–1212.

Christopher Wolff, Dirk Schroeder, Mark Young

Issue Studied and Relevance to Habitat for Humanity

The effects of Habitat for Humanity housing in northern Malawi on the prevalence of childhood illnesses was examined utilizing a household based cross-sectional study. The study concluded that the incidence of respiratory, gastrointestinal or malarial illnesses was reduced by 44 percent in those children living in Habitat for Humanity houses compared to those living in nearby traditional houses. The results of this study indicate that improved housing conditions are as important as improved water and sanitation conditions in enhancing health in developing countries.

Methods

Randomly selected HFH Malawi families were compared to families in the closest traditional house. The incidence of respiratory and gastrointestinal illness was determined by the maternal illness recall method. Malaria incidence was determined by a positive blood smear and palpable spleen from a doctor’s exam. Socioeconomic and household characteristics were also collected. However, there was no significant difference in these characteristics between the two groups.

Key Findings

The study found that the percentage of children with any or each of the three illnesses is less in Habitat houses than traditional houses. Reductions in individual diseases were not statistically significant. Children in the Habitat houses had a 44 percent reduced chance of respiratory illness, gastrointestinal illness or malaria. This level of reduction is similar to the level of reduction in illness when water sources or sanitation are improved. The authors conclude that simultaneously improving housing, water and sanitation — combined with education on the benefits of these improved resources — will have the greatest impact on improved community health.

Implications for HFH

• Quantifies the impact of improved housing on health in a community.

• Uses simple methods for collecting data, easily replicated in other communities.

• Emphasizes the importance of housing as component in improved health, which can be used to garner financial support and collaboration with other agencies that focus on water/sanitation.

Questions for Reflection

• What are the prevalent illnesses that affect our prospective homeowners? How might the methods used in this study, or similar methods, be used to determine the effect of Habitat for Humanity housing on the frequency of illness in our homeowner families?

• Are there simple changes in our housing design that can significantly improve health issues for our homeowners? What modifications are needed for a particular location or family? What resources are available for determining modifications?

• Are there other organizations working to improve health conditions that we can partner with to have a greater impact on the health of our homeowners? Does our education program for homeowners help them take advantage of their new housing conditions to improve their health?

• Can similar studies be done to document the impact of Habitat homeownership on educational, vocational or psychosocial outcomes? What processes should be in place to ensure legal and appropriate data collection methods?

Full Paper

The entire paper is available at the following address: http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/322/7296/1209.