Ricardo ALMENDRA, University of Coimbra, Portugal
Indoor thermal comfort is considered an important factor affecting health and well-being, as people spend the majority of their time at home (Bonnefoy, 2007). Houses can offer protection against harmful elements but can also be responsible for increased exposure to environmental hazards such as cold and heat (Deguen, Fiestas & Zmirou-Navier, 2012). Inequalities in housing quality are often caused by socioeconomic conditions and result in uneven exposure to health hazards (Santana, Almendra, 2019).
The objective of this study is to assess the association between self-perceived health status and the inability to keep houses adequately cool in summer and warm in winter and to identify socioeconomic and behavioral factors associated with indoor thermal discomfort in the municipalities of the Portuguese Network of Healthy Municipalities. Therefore, a cross-sectional population-based survey was conducted (May/2020-April/2021; sample size: 10,047 adult individuals) and logistic regressions models, adjusted for age and sex, were applied.
The prevalence of people not feeling comfortable in the dwelling due to heat was of 34% and due to cold was of 21%. The likelihood of reporting poor health status was significantly higher for individuals with cold houses in winter (OR: 2.42) and for individuals with hot houses in summer (OR: 2.13). Not having central heating, thermal insulation, proper ventilation, damp walls and reporting living in houses in need of repair are significant factors influencing the inability of feeling comfortable in the house.
The results highlight the role played by socioeconomic conditions in the exposure to indoor health hazards and the health impacts from armful thermal indoor environments.
Mots clés : Indoor thermal comfort|Housing characteristics|Socioeconomic Inequalities|Portugal
A105228RA