Environmental conditions in low-income urban housing: Clustering and associations with self-reported health

G. Adamkiewicz, J.D. Spengler, A.E. Harley, A. Stoddard, M. Yang, M. Alvarez-Reeves and G. Sorensen

American Journal of Public Health, 2014, vol. 104, issue 9, 1650-1656

Abstract: Objectives. We explored prevalence and clustering of key environmental conditions in low-income housing and associations with self-reported health. Methods. The Health in Common Study, conducted between 2005 and 2009, recruited participants (n = 828) from 20 low-income housing developments in the Boston area. We interviewed 1 participant per household and conducted a brief inspection of the unit (apartment). We created binary indexes and a summed index for household exposures: mold, combustion by-products, secondhand smoke, chemicals, pests, and inadequate ventilation. We used multivariable logistic regression to examine the associations between each index and household characteristics and between each index and self-reported health. Results. Environmental problems were common; more than half of homes had 3 or more exposure-related problems (median summed index = 3). After adjustment for household-level demographics, we found clustering of problems in site (P

Keywords: pesticide, adolescent; adult; air conditioning; animal; article; cluster analysis; environmental exposure; female; fungus; health status; housing; human; indoor air pollution; insect; male; middle aged; poverty; prevalence; rodent; socioeconomics; statistics; United States; urban population; young adult, Adolescent; Adult; Air Pollution, Indoor; Animals; Boston; Cluster Analysis; Environmental Exposure; Female; Fungi; Health Status; Housing; Humans; Insects; Male; Middle Aged; Pesticides; Poverty; Prevalence; Rodentia; Socioeconomic Factors; Urban Population; Ventilation; Young Adult (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2013.301253_8

DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2013.301253

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