November 30th, 2018
We report analysis of survey data from two public housing developments in Boston, Massachusetts (USA) that house low-income inner-city residents. The two developments differ in that one has had substantial renovations to walls, roofs, piping, heating and water systems while the other has not. In 2002 we collected a combined 238 surveys from the two developments using a questionnaire that recorded self-reports of housing conditions (pest infestation, water leaks, etc.), chronic health conditions and symptoms in the preceding month. Because, heating and domestic water replacement at the more renovated development occurred between the 2002 survey and a pilot survey we conducted in 1998, we were also able to assess changes in responses over time. Crude and adjusted odds ratios showed that residents reported worse environmental conditions at the unrenovated development. Only the crude OR for skin rashes was statistically significant and only the adjusted OR for ear infection, skin rashes and sneezing exceeded 2.0. The longitudinal component of the study also showed changes in environmental factors after renovation, but the evidence was more mixed with both negative and positive trends. Only the crude OR for sneezing was statistically significant and only the adjusted OR for nosebleeds, sneezing and burning/itching eyes exceeded 2.0. We conclude that our analysis supports the contention that renovations improve housing conditions and that such improvements may be associated with health improvements, but that further research is needed to firmly document any health benefits.