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An investigation of child health in relation to housing renovations for a disadvantaged immigrant population in Malmö, Sweden

Richter, Jens C. LU ; Flanagan, Erin LU orcid ; Taj, Tahir M. LU ; Al-Nahar, Lina LU ; Jakobsson, Kristina LU and Oudin, Anna LU (2023) In Scandinavian Journal of Public Health 51(3). p.472-482
Abstract

Aims: The aim of the study was to describe child health in relation to housing renovations in more than 800 rental units, consisting of repairs of dilapidated kitchens and bathrooms, in the disadvantaged neighbourhood of Herrgården in Rosengård, Malmö, Sweden. Methods: Data on housing conditions and self-reported health were collected during home visits to families living in Herrgården (building renovations area) and a comparison area (neighbouring Törnrosen, with generally better housing conditions). At baseline, 130 families with 359 children participated, while 51 families with 127 children participated at follow-up. All data were collected between 2010 and 2012. Additionally, regional register data on health-care usage/in- and... (More)

Aims: The aim of the study was to describe child health in relation to housing renovations in more than 800 rental units, consisting of repairs of dilapidated kitchens and bathrooms, in the disadvantaged neighbourhood of Herrgården in Rosengård, Malmö, Sweden. Methods: Data on housing conditions and self-reported health were collected during home visits to families living in Herrgården (building renovations area) and a comparison area (neighbouring Törnrosen, with generally better housing conditions). At baseline, 130 families with 359 children participated, while 51 families with 127 children participated at follow-up. All data were collected between 2010 and 2012. Additionally, regional register data on health-care usage/in- and outpatient contacts within the public health-care system between 2008 and 2013 were also collected for all 8715 children registered as living in the two areas. Results: Self-reported health seemed to somewhat improve in both areas, with 74% versus 86% and 78% versus 88% reporting good or very good health in Herrgården and in the comparison area at baseline and follow-up, respectively. In Herrgården, crowdedness increased, while it decreased in the comparison area. The number of health-care contacts remained stable over time in Herrgården, while it decreased in the comparison area. Conclusions: Partial housing renovations did not seem to result in clear health improvements as measured with the indicators used in the present study. This could possibly be due to persisting health effects due to increased crowdedness or persisting poor housing conditions, as only kitchens and bathrooms were renovated.

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author
; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
child health, child health inequality, housing renovations, Immigrant health, indoor environment
in
Scandinavian Journal of Public Health
volume
51
issue
3
pages
472 - 482
publisher
SAGE Publications
external identifiers
  • pmid:36457214
  • scopus:85143643314
ISSN
1403-4948
DOI
10.1177/14034948221138998
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
b2a7cf9b-6847-4330-8aab-f551ad2d8908
date added to LUP
2023-01-20 15:36:49
date last changed
2024-09-06 07:35:04
@article{b2a7cf9b-6847-4330-8aab-f551ad2d8908,
  abstract     = {{<p>Aims: The aim of the study was to describe child health in relation to housing renovations in more than 800 rental units, consisting of repairs of dilapidated kitchens and bathrooms, in the disadvantaged neighbourhood of Herrgården in Rosengård, Malmö, Sweden. Methods: Data on housing conditions and self-reported health were collected during home visits to families living in Herrgården (building renovations area) and a comparison area (neighbouring Törnrosen, with generally better housing conditions). At baseline, 130 families with 359 children participated, while 51 families with 127 children participated at follow-up. All data were collected between 2010 and 2012. Additionally, regional register data on health-care usage/in- and outpatient contacts within the public health-care system between 2008 and 2013 were also collected for all 8715 children registered as living in the two areas. Results: Self-reported health seemed to somewhat improve in both areas, with 74% versus 86% and 78% versus 88% reporting good or very good health in Herrgården and in the comparison area at baseline and follow-up, respectively. In Herrgården, crowdedness increased, while it decreased in the comparison area. The number of health-care contacts remained stable over time in Herrgården, while it decreased in the comparison area. Conclusions: Partial housing renovations did not seem to result in clear health improvements as measured with the indicators used in the present study. This could possibly be due to persisting health effects due to increased crowdedness or persisting poor housing conditions, as only kitchens and bathrooms were renovated.</p>}},
  author       = {{Richter, Jens C. and Flanagan, Erin and Taj, Tahir M. and Al-Nahar, Lina and Jakobsson, Kristina and Oudin, Anna}},
  issn         = {{1403-4948}},
  keywords     = {{child health; child health inequality; housing renovations; Immigrant health; indoor environment}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{3}},
  pages        = {{472--482}},
  publisher    = {{SAGE Publications}},
  series       = {{Scandinavian Journal of Public Health}},
  title        = {{An investigation of child health in relation to housing renovations for a disadvantaged immigrant population in Malmö, Sweden}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/14034948221138998}},
  doi          = {{10.1177/14034948221138998}},
  volume       = {{51}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}