Urban slum housing quality, and its public health implications in Nigeria: a case of urban slum residents in Enugu metropolis, South East, Nigeria
Abstract Introduction Housing remains a strategic social determinant of health. In Sub-Saharan Africa, most urban dwellers live in slums with attendant health implications. This study assessed the housing conditions of the slums of Enugu metropolis and the public health implications. Methods This is...
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2024-11-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-20764-7 |
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| author | Salomey N. Ogbonna Casmir N. Ochie Elias C. Aniwada |
| author_facet | Salomey N. Ogbonna Casmir N. Ochie Elias C. Aniwada |
| author_sort | Salomey N. Ogbonna |
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| description | Abstract Introduction Housing remains a strategic social determinant of health. In Sub-Saharan Africa, most urban dwellers live in slums with attendant health implications. This study assessed the housing conditions of the slums of Enugu metropolis and the public health implications. Methods This is a community-based cross-sectional study of 459 slum residents of the Enugu metropolis. Ethical clearance was obtained from the UNTH, Health Research Ethics Committee (HREC). Data was collected using a pretested semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire and an observational checklist. Data was analysed using IBM SPSS version 23. Data were summarised using mean and standard deviation, frequency and proportion as appropriate and presented in tables and figures. The chi-square test was used for association at p-value ≤ 0.05 significance. Results The mean age (SD) of the respondents was 32.93(12.34) years. A higher proportion (N = 180, 39.2%) were 18-27years, females (N = 282, 61.4%), married (N = 297, 64.7%), attained secondary education (N = 273, 59.5%), Igbo (N = 453, 98.7%), and self-employed (N = 327, 71.2%). They demonstrated good knowledge of standard housing specifications (N = 231, 50.3%) and the effects of housing conditions on health (N = 297, 64.7%). Also, most lived in a one-room apartment (N = 201, 43.8%) and cooked in a separate kitchen (N = 150, 32.7%) with a gas cooker as the major source of heat supply for cooking (N = 249, 54.2%). Sixty-three (13.7%) of the respondents didn’t have access to suitable toilet facilities. A higher proportion, (N = 171, 37.3%) used pipe-borne water, and electricity as the major source of light (N = 447, 97.4%). The most prevailing health condition was malaria/fever (N = 258, 97.4%). Despite having pests and rodents-infested dwellings, only (N = 156, 34.0%) had insecticides in the house. Equally, (N = 132, 28.8%) of them lived with broken floors. Conclusions Despite good knowledge of the public health implications of poor housing, most dwellings remained substandard and unhealthful with associated prevalent health conditions. Recommendation There is a need for a health campaign against the poor living conditions in the slums. |
| format | Article |
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| spelling | doaj-art-7b41c593cf924d0daea96fc9ab72f0f62025-08-20T02:22:30ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582024-11-0124111210.1186/s12889-024-20764-7Urban slum housing quality, and its public health implications in Nigeria: a case of urban slum residents in Enugu metropolis, South East, NigeriaSalomey N. Ogbonna0Casmir N. Ochie1Elias C. Aniwada2Department of Community Medicine, University of Nigeria College of Medicine, Ituku-OzallaDepartment of Community Medicine, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-OzallaDepartment of Community Medicine, University of Nigeria College of Medicine, Ituku-OzallaAbstract Introduction Housing remains a strategic social determinant of health. In Sub-Saharan Africa, most urban dwellers live in slums with attendant health implications. This study assessed the housing conditions of the slums of Enugu metropolis and the public health implications. Methods This is a community-based cross-sectional study of 459 slum residents of the Enugu metropolis. Ethical clearance was obtained from the UNTH, Health Research Ethics Committee (HREC). Data was collected using a pretested semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire and an observational checklist. Data was analysed using IBM SPSS version 23. Data were summarised using mean and standard deviation, frequency and proportion as appropriate and presented in tables and figures. The chi-square test was used for association at p-value ≤ 0.05 significance. Results The mean age (SD) of the respondents was 32.93(12.34) years. A higher proportion (N = 180, 39.2%) were 18-27years, females (N = 282, 61.4%), married (N = 297, 64.7%), attained secondary education (N = 273, 59.5%), Igbo (N = 453, 98.7%), and self-employed (N = 327, 71.2%). They demonstrated good knowledge of standard housing specifications (N = 231, 50.3%) and the effects of housing conditions on health (N = 297, 64.7%). Also, most lived in a one-room apartment (N = 201, 43.8%) and cooked in a separate kitchen (N = 150, 32.7%) with a gas cooker as the major source of heat supply for cooking (N = 249, 54.2%). Sixty-three (13.7%) of the respondents didn’t have access to suitable toilet facilities. A higher proportion, (N = 171, 37.3%) used pipe-borne water, and electricity as the major source of light (N = 447, 97.4%). The most prevailing health condition was malaria/fever (N = 258, 97.4%). Despite having pests and rodents-infested dwellings, only (N = 156, 34.0%) had insecticides in the house. Equally, (N = 132, 28.8%) of them lived with broken floors. Conclusions Despite good knowledge of the public health implications of poor housing, most dwellings remained substandard and unhealthful with associated prevalent health conditions. Recommendation There is a need for a health campaign against the poor living conditions in the slums.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-20764-7Housing and healthPublic healthImplicationsUrban slumsEnugu metropolis |
| spellingShingle | Salomey N. Ogbonna Casmir N. Ochie Elias C. Aniwada Urban slum housing quality, and its public health implications in Nigeria: a case of urban slum residents in Enugu metropolis, South East, Nigeria BMC Public Health Housing and health Public health Implications Urban slums Enugu metropolis |
| title | Urban slum housing quality, and its public health implications in Nigeria: a case of urban slum residents in Enugu metropolis, South East, Nigeria |
| title_full | Urban slum housing quality, and its public health implications in Nigeria: a case of urban slum residents in Enugu metropolis, South East, Nigeria |
| title_fullStr | Urban slum housing quality, and its public health implications in Nigeria: a case of urban slum residents in Enugu metropolis, South East, Nigeria |
| title_full_unstemmed | Urban slum housing quality, and its public health implications in Nigeria: a case of urban slum residents in Enugu metropolis, South East, Nigeria |
| title_short | Urban slum housing quality, and its public health implications in Nigeria: a case of urban slum residents in Enugu metropolis, South East, Nigeria |
| title_sort | urban slum housing quality and its public health implications in nigeria a case of urban slum residents in enugu metropolis south east nigeria |
| topic | Housing and health Public health Implications Urban slums Enugu metropolis |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-20764-7 |
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