Housing interventions and control of injury-related structural deficiencies: a review of the evidence

• Published in: Journal of public health management and practice Vol. 16; no. 5 Suppl; p. S34
• Main Authors: DiGuiseppi, Carolyn, Jacobs, David E, Phelan, Kieran J, Mickalide, Angela D, Ormandy, David
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.09.2010
• Subjects: Accident Prevention - methods; Accident Prevention - standards; Housing - standards; Humans; Wounds and Injuries - prevention & control
• ISSN: 1550-5022
• DOI: 10.1097/PHH.0b013e3181e28b10

Subject matter experts systematically reviewed evidence on the effectiveness of housing interventions that affect safety and injury outcomes, such as falls, fire-related injuries, burns, drowning, carbon monoxide poisoning, heat-related deaths, and noise-related harm, associated with structural housing deficiencies. Structural deficiencies were defined as those deficiencies for which a builder, landlord, or home-owner would take responsibility (ie, design, construction, installation, repair, monitoring). Three of the 17 interventions reviewed had sufficient evidence for implementation: installed, working smoke alarms; 4-sided isolation pool fencing; and preset safe hot water temperature. Five interventions needed more field evaluation, 8 needed formative research, and 1 was found to be ineffective. This evidence review shows that housing improvements are likely to help reduce burns and scalds, drowning in pools, and fire-related deaths and injuries.