A comparison of self-reported chronic disease, health awareness and behaviours in social housing residents: cross-sectional study of communities in Ontario and Quebec

• Published in: BMC research notes Vol. 17; no. 1; pp. 211 - 11
• Main Authors: Agarwal, Gina, Pirrie, Melissa, Koester, Christie, Pete, Drashti, Antolovich, Julia, Angeles, Ricardo, Marzanek, Francine, Girard, Magali, Kaczorowski, Janusz
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 30.07.2024; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Architecture and the aged; Chronic disease; Chronic Disease - epidemiology; Chronic diseases; Chronic illnesses; Cigarettes; Cross-Sectional Studies; Demographic aspects; Diabetes; Economic aspects; Female; Health aspects; Health Behavior; Health behaviour; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Housing; Humans; Low income groups; Male; Middle Aged; Older people; Ontario; Physical activity; Poverty - statistics & numerical data; Public Housing - statistics & numerical data; Quality of life; Quebec; Research Note; Risk factors; Self Report; Social aspects; Social behavior; Social housing; Ontario; Quebec; Canada; United Kingdom > UK; Quebec Canada; Social housing; Diabetes; Chronic disease; Health behaviour; Risk factors; Quality of life
• ISSN: 1756-0500; 1756-0500
• DOI: 10.1186/s13104-024-06849-x

Social housing programs are integral to making housing more affordable to Canadian seniors living in poverty. Although the programs are similar across Canada, there may be inter-provincial differences among the health of residents that could guide the development of interventions. This study explores the health of low-income seniors living in social housing in Quebec and compares it with previously reported data from Ontario. 80 responses were obtained in Quebec to compare with the previously reported Ontario data (n = 599) for a total of 679 responses. More Ontario residents had access to a family doctor (p < 0.001). Quebec residents experienced less problems with self-care (p = 0.017) and less mobility issues (p = 0.052). The visual analog scale for overall health state was similar in both provinces (mean = 67.36 in Ontario and 69.23 in Quebec). Residents in Quebec smoked more cigarettes per day (p = 0.009). More residents in Ontario participated in moderate physical activity (p = 0.09), however, they also spent more time per day on the computer (p = 0.006).