Sociodemographic, income, and environmental characteristics of individuals displaying animal and object hoarding behavior in a major city in South Brazil: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background and Aim: Hoarding cases have not been researched in depth in developing countries, such as Brazil. This study aimed to describe the characteristics of people with hoarding behavior in Curitiba, Brazil. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted based on complaints about hoarding situations received by the City Hall. The data on sociodemographic, income, and environmental characteristics of individuals displaying animal and object hoarding behavior were obtained and analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple correspondence analyses. Results: Out of the 113 hoarding cases reported, 69 (61.06%) were fully assessed. Most of the participants (43; 62.32%) were women, and it was observed that most of the animal hoarding cases were women (p=0.02). The average age was 62.47 years old, and most of them (44; 63.76%) had studied up to the middle school level. People associated with object hoarding belonged to the lower income category (p=0.031). In most cases, the homes had an unpleasant odor (45; 65.21%), and this was prevalent in cases involving women (p=0.004) and animals (p=0.001). The risk of fire (24 [34.78%]) and landslip (9 [13.04%]) was more frequent in the case of object hoarding (p=0.018 and 0.021, respectively). Conclusion: The description of characteristics of individuals with hoarding behavior may assist in understanding the magnitude of this public health problem in Brazil and shed light on the need to develop studies on the health conditions of people and animals that live in these situations.

One Health approach for Brucella canis: Serological and molecular detection in animal-hoarding individuals and their dogs

“…In addition, negative results for individuals with AHD may indicate that B. canis has the lowest zoonotic potential in the genus Brucella [12,17]. Nonetheless, seropositive dogs in close and continuous contact with owners with AHD, mostly elderly, unassisted (last medical visit over 6 months prior), lonely and with comorbidities [1,6], may be a tragic combination.…”

“…Animal hoarding disorder (AHD) is defined as a psychiatric obsessive-compulsive condition characterized by the accumulation of animals in households, frequently in high numbers and confined to small spaces and lacking minimum nutrition, physical space, sanitation, and veterinary assistance [1,2]. Individuals with AHD often live in unsanitary conditions, leading to vector proliferation and pathogen spread, particularly of zoonotic diseases [1,[3][4][5][6]. In addition, such individuals often fail to recognize animal suffering, are often hungry, trapped, crowded, or even die [1], as indicated by case reports of dogs scavenging the owner's remains [7].…”

Association of hoarding case identification and animal protection programs to socioeconomic indicators in a major metropolitan area of Brazil

“…As animal and/or object hoarding disorder has been considered a major sanitary problem worldwide, no contact or mapping attempt by a given municipality was considered a negative indicator of human and animal health and welfare. Such an assumption was based on a recent study by our research group that found a high presence of animal and object hoarding disorder in Curitiba ( 9 ), which has been statistically associated with human and animal cruelty and unsanitary conditions ( 10 ). High identification of hoarders happened in municipalities with higher income and a composite of higher distance from the state capital and higher income.…”

“…The presence of animal/object hoarding cases in Curitiba, Brazil, was recently estimated at 1 per 15,500 (6.45 cases per 100,000) inhabitants ( 9 ), which was seen more frequently in women, who were more prone to animal hoarding behavior. The same study also reported that risk factors associated with hoarder behavior have included the proliferation of pests and vectors, risk of fire (e.g., bare wiring or no available electricity leading to the use of candles), and landslips (e.g., object stacking and accumulation falling over persons and animals) ( 10 ). Protection programs and population management of companion animals have been increasingly established by non- and governmental agencies worldwide, mostly performing neutering-spaying services, responsible guardianship programs, animal cruelty surveillance, and adoption of stray, abandoned, and relinquished pets ( 11 ).…”

“Dying alone and being eaten”: dog scavenging on the remains of an elderly animal hoarder-a case report

“…The impact of complications due to the individuals age would worsen the already existing mental problems leading to degenerating human, animal, and environmental conditions ( 6 ). Animal hoarders are also more likely to be women living alone (63.8%) with low self-hygiene (65.2%) ( 7 ). Such a scenario creates the optimum conditions for disasters, including accidents such as tripping, falling, and fire; disability, diseases, and health risks due to poor sanitary conditions; and fatal outcomes in severe situations ( 8 ).…”