Setting Housing Standards to Improve Global Health

Philippa Howden-Chapman, Nathalie Roebbel and Elinor Chisholm
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Philippa Howden-Chapman: He Kainga Oranga, Housing and Health Programme, University of Otago, Wellington 6242, New Zealand
Nathalie Roebbel: WHO, Department of Public Health, Environmental and Social Determinants of Health, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland
Elinor Chisholm: He Kainga Oranga, Housing and Health Programme, University of Otago, Wellington 6242, New Zealand

IJERPH, 2017, vol. 14, issue 12, 1-11

Abstract: Developing World Health Organization international guidelines is a highly formal process. Yet the resulting guidelines, which Member States are encouraged, but not required to adopt, are a powerful way of developing rigorous policy and fostering implementation. Using the example of the housing and health guidelines, which are currently being finalised, this paper outlines the process for developing WHO guidelines. This includes: forming a Guidelines Review Group that represents all regions of the world, and ensures gender balance and technical expertise; identifying key health outcomes of interest; commissioning systematic reviews of the evidence; assessing the evidence; and formulating recommendations. The strength of each recommendation is assessed based on the quality of the evidence, along with consideration of issues such as equity, acceptability, and feasibility of the implementation of the recommendation. The proposed housing guidelines will address: cold and hot indoor temperatures, home injuries, household crowding, accessibility and access to active travel infrastructure.

Keywords: housing; health; methodology; international guidelines; WHO (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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