A review of the impact of shelter design on the health of displaced populations

Abstract

There are currently millions of displaced people encamped in low-quality shelters that jeopardise the health of these displaced populations. These shelters, which exhibit poor thermal regulation and air quality, are often inhabited by households for several years. Recently, the internal environment of shelters has been recognised as a determinant of the health of the occupants and the indoor air quality (IAQ) and internal temperatures have been identified as critical factors affecting occupants’ health. Attempts by researchers and private companies to develop healthier shelter solutions have mainly prioritised factors such as rapid deployment, transportability and sustainability. Via a systematic bibliometric analysis of the existing literature, this review examines the impact of shelters’ internal environment on occupant health. Self-reports and building simulation are the most common methodologies reported in the literature, but there is a disconnect between the reported shelter issues and their impact on health. This is likely due to the multifaceted and site-specific factors analysed. Indoor air quality, thermal comfort and overcrowding are the most commonly identified shelter issues, which are strongly related to the presence of infectious and airborne diseases. An analysis of the available literature indicates that there is still a lack of clear guidance linking shelter quality to health. Moreover, evidence of the impact of shelters on health is harder to find, and there is a gap regarding the metrics and the methodology used to evaluate shelter quality. Therefore, further research is necessary to provide evidence of the impact of shelter design on health through transdisciplinary approaches.

Assessing the mental health needs of Yazidi adolescents and young adults in an Iraqi Kurdi IDP Camp: a focus group study

“…Housing is a well-known social determinant of health for both communicable and non-communicable diseases. Poor shelter conditions in refugee camps have been associated with increasing mental distress and depression [ 31 ]. Psychological home defined by Sigmon and colleagues as “a sense of belonging in which self-identity is tied to a particular place” is the aspect most at risk in protracted refugee situations and has one of the greatest impacts on mental well-being [ 32 ].…”

Sustainability Trends in Humanitarian Architecture Research: A Bibliometric Analysis

“…Even though phase I (1982-2002) was limited to a few key themes, it is considered the cornerstone of the field's knowledge. Having "healthcare" and "diseases" as the central themes in the research field is expected, given the increased number of studies focusing on "healthy housing" over the last two decades [44]. In this context, accessibility to healthcare facilities provided the foundation for sustainable shelters in PDPC situations.…”

“…Previous efforts in reviewing the literature on sustainability in PDPC shelters exist, such as [8,44], but they focus more on shelter design and health issues. The main goals of this study were to present an overview of the research on sustainable shelters in a PDPC context, identify significant sources and authors, clarify the major focus areas, and examine how the field has changed over time.…”

Post-Disaster Use Of Urban Parks In Settlements With High Earthquake Density: The Example Of Kültür Park

“…This makes it di cult for people to access necessary materials and services after a disaster. The use of green spaces as shelter causes health problems (Conzatti et al 2022). Green areas used as shelters after disasters prevent people from living in a healthy environment.…”