Urban Health: Assessment of Indoor Environment Spillovers on Health in a Distressed Urban Area of Rome

Abstract

It is notable that indoor environment quality plays a crucial role in guaranteeing health, especially if we consider that people spend more than 90% of their time indoors, a percentage that increases for people on low income. This role assumes even further significance when dealing with distressed urban areas, vulnerable areas within cities that suffer from multiple deprivations. The community-based interdisciplinary research-action group of the University La Sapienza focused on a complex in the outskirts of Rome. The aim was to assess the correlations between architectural aspects of the indoor environment, socio-economic conditions, such as lifestyles and housing conditions, and eventually health outcomes. The intent of providing a comparative methodology in a context where official data is hard to find, led to the integration of social, health, and housing questionnaires with various environmental software simulations. What emerged is that underprivileged housing conditions, characterized by mold, humidity, unhealthiness, thermohygrometric discomfort, architectural barriers, and overcrowding, are often associated with recurrent pathologies linked to arthritis, respiratory diseases, and domestic accidents.

Urban Health and Social Marginality: Perceived Health Status and Interaction with Healthcare Professionals of a Hard-to-Reach Community Living in a Suburban Area of Rome (Italy)

“…These data confirm that social marginalization significantly shapes the risk of chronic degenerative diseases, as shown by a growing body of literature [38][39][40]. In fact, in Bastogi this could also be due to the poor housing conditions and low indoor environment quality of this urban area described in a recently published study [41]. Investigating the risk factors connected with these diseases, the group from Bastogi reported on average a higher BMI, practiced less intense physical activity, and consisted of a much higher proportion of smokers.…”

Pathways for Therapy and Urban Health in the Field of Mental Suffering. Illness Narratives from a Residential Complex for Public Housing Assistance in Rome, Italy

“…Costanza is now alone inside the residence and is often verbally attacked by residents, because along with her friend, she involved local institutions to resolve a private matter [13]. This story, which will be detailed further in the text through the testimony of her husband Alessandro, allows us to approach the understanding of the role played by the various institutions within the setting of local treatment.…”