2/26/2021 Housing and environmental factors and their effects on the health of children in the slums of Karachi, Pakistan

arachi, Pakistan - PubMed

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J Biosoc Sci. 1997 Jul;29(3):271-81. doi: 10.1017/s002193209700271x.

Housing and environmental factors and their effects

on the health of children in the slums of Karachi,
Pakistan
R M D'Souza  1

Affiliations
PMID: 9881135 DOI: 10.1017/s002193209700271x

Abstract
To examine the association of environmental factors (including housing) with respiratory infections
and diarrhoea in children under 5 years of age, a cross-sectional study of 403 families was conducted
in a squatter settlement of Karachi. In the 2-week period before the survey prevalence of diarrhoea
and respiratory infections was 14.4% and 15.0% respectively. The factors significantly associated (p <
0.05) with diarrhoea in households in the multivariate analysis were: number of children under 5,
regular cleaning of sewers, storage of water in small utensils and cooking inside a one room house.
Five households risk factors were identified for respiratory infections: the number of children under 5,
poor housing structure, increased household density, humidity inside the house less than the
humidity outside house, and frequent cooking inside the house. These results suggest that children
under 5 years of age in lower income areas are at additional risk to health because of poor
environmental conditions.

PIP: This article examines the impact of sociodemographic, housing, and environmental conditions on
diarrheal and respiratory infections in children under 5 years of age in a Karachi slum in Pakistan. Data
were obtained from interviews conducted during October-November 1990 in Essa Nagri slum among
403 families with children under 5 years (698 children). Most adults worked as cleaners in the city.
Over 75% of houses had access to communal water taps and indoor toilet facilities. Symptoms were
recorded as reported by the mother, and severity and duration of illness was not assessed. 14.4% of
children suffered from diarrhea during the 2 weeks prior to the survey. Diarrhea was significantly
associated with number of children under 5 years, regular cleaning of sewers, storage of water in
small utensils, and cooking in one-room dwellings. 15% of children suffered from respiratory
infections. Household risk factors for respiratory infection were poor housing structure, frequent
indoor cooking, lower indoor than outdoor humidity, increased household density, and number of
children under 5 years. The most prevalent risk was having more than one child aged under 5 years.
The least prevalent risk factor was housing structure. Malnutrition was not a risk factor. Income of the
household head was not a risk factor, but other housing facilities that were related to income were
risk factors. Maternal education was not a risk factor. It is argued, however, that the very
contaminated living environments undermine the effect of education. Families should be educated
about public health measures such as improved ventilation in houses, hygienic practices, sanitary
disposal of wastes after cleaning of the sewers, storage and boiling of water, and home management
of diarrhea.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9881135/ 1/2
2/26/2021 Housing and environmental factors and their effects on the health of children in the slums of Karachi, Pakistan - PubMed

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https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9881135/ 2/2