COVID-19 & informal settlements: is Stay Home safe?

Abstract

Disproportional burden of COVID-19 and vulnerability to containment measures in informal settlements have been recognised, however, the role of poor housing conditions in propagating these remains neglected. Poor housing conditions will make it difficult to effectively implement social distancing measures. With increased time spent in cramped, dark and uncomfortable indoor environments, water and sanitation outside the home, and no outdoor space, higher exposure to existing health hazards and high levels of stress, with women and children most vulnerable, are anticipated. We reflect on these interconnections and recommend immediate measures and the long-term need for adequate housing for health and well-being.

Journal

Title: UCL Open: Environment Preprint

Publisher: UCL Press

Publication date (Electronic preprint): 14 June 2020

Affiliations

[1 ] UCL Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering, Bartlett School for Energy, Environment and Resources, University College London

[2 ] Population, Policy and Practice, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London

[3 ] Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University

[4 ] Engineering for International Development Centre; Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, University College London

[5 ] Aceso Global Health Consultants Ltd

Article

DOI: 10.14324/111.444/000038.v1

License:

This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY) 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/, which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Funding

NA NA