The impact of housing conditions on mortality in Belgium (1991–2016)

Joan Damiens ()
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Joan Damiens: Université Catholique de Louvain

Journal of Population Research, 2020, vol. 37, issue 4, No 4, 421 pages

Abstract: Abstract In the Western countries, including Belgium, life expectancy has increased over the last decades, as well as social inequalities in health and mortality. Existing research tends to approximate socioeconomic status with the educational level, occupational status or income. Housing is yet another socioeconomic factor that is much less considered when studying inequalities in mortality. Indeed, housing is a complex and multidimensional element impacting several aspects of a person’s health and well-being (physical, mental and social). The data used in this research are the result of the coupling of the population censuses of 1991, 2001 and 2011 and the National Register. They cover the entire population of Belgium over 25 years. Through life tables analysis and multivariate logistic regression models, this research contributes to existing research by setting trends in housing conditions between 1991 and 2016 in relation to social inequalities in health and mortality over this period in Belgium. It shows that housing conditions have a specific effect on the risk of death, in addition to other socio-economic characteristics. On the 2011–2015 period, once controlling for demographic and socioeconomic characteristics (education, professional status and income), a 25% higher mortality rate separates tenants from owners on the one hand, and population living in low quality housing from those living in better quality housing on the other hand. Ensuring good housing conditions seems a necessary step to reduce inequalities that should be considered in social policies.

Keywords: Housing; Mortality; Health inequalities; Register data; Belgium (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1007/s12546-020-09252-y

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