A Citizen Science Approach to Identifying Indoor Environmental Barriers to Optimal Health for under 5s Experiencing
Diana Margot Rosenthal1,2, Marcella Ucci3, Michelle Heys1,4
1UCL Population, Policy and Practice Research and Teaching Department, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, UK.
Insights
Homeless families with young children face significant indoor environmental hazards in temporary housing. Addressing these housing barriers is crucial for child health and development.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Environmental Health
- Child Development
Background:
- The first five years of life are critical for child development.
- Homelessness and adverse childhood experiences are linked to health and developmental issues.
- Limited data exists on indoor environmental barriers for families with children under five experiencing homelessness in temporary accommodation (U5TA).
Purpose of the Study:
- To address the gap in understanding indoor environmental barriers faced by U5TA.
- To utilize a citizen science approach for data collection with families.
- To inform child-centered housing policies.
Main Methods:
- A citizen science approach involving 15 mothers of U5TA and a lead researcher.
- Data collection via a mobile app housing survey, house visits, and collaborative meetings.
- Thematic analysis of collected data.
Main Results:
- Multiple concurrent indoor environmental barriers were identified.
- Key themes included overcrowding, dampness/mold, inadequate facilities, infestations, disrepair, unsafe electrics, cold temperatures, and trip hazards.
- All participants reported experiencing several of these barriers.
Conclusions:
- Citizen science effectively gathered meaningful data on U5TA housing conditions.
- Urgent need for child-centered housing policies to address environmental barriers.
- Policies should meet the needs of current and future generations of families in temporary accommodation.
Abstract:
The first five years of life are critical for optimal growth, health, and cognitive development. Adverse childhood experiences, including experiencing homelessness, can be a risk factor for multiple health issues and developmental challenges. There is a dearth of data collected with and by families with children under age five living in temporary accommodation due to experiencing homelessness (U5TA) describing indoor environmental barriers that prevent U5TA from achieving and maintaining optimal health. The aim of this study was to address this current gap using a citizen science approach. Fifteen participants, who were mothers of U5TA living in a deprived area of London, and the lead researcher collected data in late 2019/early 2020 using: (I) a housing survey conducted via a mobile app; (II) house visits; and (III) collaborative meetings. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Key themes included: overcrowding/shared facilities, dampness/mold growth, poor/inadequate kitchen/toilet facilities, infestations/vermin, structural problems/disrepair, unsafe electrics, excessively cold temperatures, and unsafe surfaces that risk causing trips/falls, with all participants experiencing multiple concurrent indoor environmental barriers. The citizen science approach was successfully used to collect meaningful data demonstrating the need for child-centered housing policies meeting the needs of current and future generations of families living in TA.
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