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Open Access 01-12-2024 | Research

Household factors and prevalence of squalor: meta-analysis and meta-regression

Authors: Mike Norton, Stephen Kellett, Vyv Huddy, Melanie Simmonds-Buckley

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2024

Abstract

Background

Severe domestic squalor occurs when a person lives in a dwelling that is significantly unclean, disorganised and unhygienic. The limited previous research has primarily focused on the characteristics of those who live in squalor and the associated risk factors. Robust and reliable studies of squalor prevalence have not been conducted. This study sought to produce a reliable estimate of the point prevalence of squalor.

Methods

Using data from 13-years of the English Housing Survey, N = 85,681 households were included in a prevalence meta-analysis. Squalor prevalence over time, subgroup analysis and logistic regression investigated the role played by household and community characteristics.

Results

The point prevalence of squalor was estimated to be 0.85% and squalor was seen to decrease significantly over time. More significant community deprivation, a rented dwelling, lower income and high numbers of people in the home was associated with a greater risk of squalor.

Conclusions

Squalor prevalence was higher than previous estimates and supports community care services in associated service planning. The results regarding household characteristics help to inform which households and individuals may be at a higher risk of living in squalid conditions.

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Title: Household factors and prevalence of squalor: meta-analysis and meta-regression
Authors: Mike Norton
Stephen Kellett
Vyv Huddy
Melanie Simmonds-Buckley
Publication date: 01-12-2024
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2024
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-17983-3

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Household factors and prevalence of squalor: meta-analysis and meta-regression

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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Abstract

Background

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Results

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