Housing Quality in a Rural and an Urban Settlement in South Africa

Angela Mathee, Jocelyn Moyes, Thulisa Mkhencele, Jackie Kleynhans, Brigitte Language, Stuart Piketh, Elias Moroe, Floidy Wafawanaka, Neil Martinson, Meredith McMorrow, Stefano Tempia, Kathleen Kahn and Cheryl Cohen
Additional contact information
Angela Mathee: Environment and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Johannesburg 2028, South Africa
Jocelyn Moyes: Center for Respiratory Disease and Meningitis, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa
Thulisa Mkhencele: Center for Respiratory Disease and Meningitis, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa
Jackie Kleynhans: Center for Respiratory Disease and Meningitis, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa
Brigitte Language: Unit for Environmental Science and Management, School of Geo- and Spatial Science, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa
Stuart Piketh: Unit for Environmental Science and Management, School of Geo- and Spatial Science, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa
Elias Moroe: Perinatal HIV Research Unit (PHRU), University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 1864, South Africa
Floidy Wafawanaka: MRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt), Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa
Neil Martinson: Perinatal HIV Research Unit (PHRU), University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 1864, South Africa
Meredith McMorrow: Influenza Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
Stefano Tempia: Influenza Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
Kathleen Kahn: MRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt), Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa
Cheryl Cohen: Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 5, 1-17

Abstract: During 2016 to 2018, a prospective household cohort study of influenza and respiratory syncytial virus community burden and transmission dynamics (the PHIRST study) was undertaken to examine the factors associated with influenza and other respiratory pathogen transmissions in South Africa. We collected information on housing conditions in the PHIRST study sites: Rural villages near Agincourt, Bushbuckridge Municipality, Mpumalanga Province, and urban Jouberton Township in North West Province. Survey data were collected from 159 and 167 study households in Agincourt and Jouberton, respectively. Multiple housing-related health hazards were identified in both sites, but particularly in Agincourt. In Agincourt, 75% (119/159) of households reported daily or weekly interruptions in water supply and 98% (154/159) stored drinking water in miscellaneous containers, compared to 1% (1/167) and 69% (115/167) of households in Jouberton. Fuels other than electricity (such as wood) were mainly used for cooking by 44% (70/159) and 7% (11/167) of Agincourt and Jouberton households, respectively; and 67% (106/159) of homes in Agincourt versus 47% (79/167) in Jouberton were located on unpaved roads, which is associated with the generation of dust and particulate matter. This study has highlighted housing conditions in Agincourt and Jouberton that are detrimental to health, and which may impact disease severity or transmission in South African communities.

Keywords: housing; water; air pollution; fuel use; environmental health; South Africa (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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