Household Overcrowding in Iran, a Low-middle-income Country: How Major of a Public Health Concern Is It?

Journal: Journal of preventive medicine and public health = Yebang Uihakhoe chi

Volume: 54

Issue: 1

Year of Publication: 2021

Affiliated Institutions:  Department of Nursing, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran. Department of Economics, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran. School of Public Health, Mekelle University College of Health Sciences, Mekelle, Ethiopia. Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran. Research Center for Environmental Determinants of Health, Health Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran. Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.

Abstract summary 

Household overcrowding (HC) can contribute to both physical and mental disorders among the members of overcrowded households. This study aimed to measure the status of HC and its main determinants across the provinces of Iran.Data from 39 864 households from the 2016 Iranian Household Income and Expenditures Survey were used in this study. The Equivalized Crowding Index (ECI) and HC index were applied to measure the overcrowding of households. Regression models were estimated to show the relationships between different variables and the ECI.The overall, urban, and rural prevalence of HC was 8.2%, 6.3%, and 10.1%, respectively. The highest prevalence of HC was found in Sistan and Baluchestan Province (28.7%), while the lowest was found in Guilan Province (1.8%). The number of men in the household, rural residency, the average age of household members, yearly income, and the household wealth index were identified as the main determinants of the ECI and HC.The study demonstrated that the ECI and HC were higher in regions near the borders of Iran than in other regions. Therefore, health promotion and empowerment strategies are required to avoid the negative consequences of HC, and screening programs are needed to identify at-risk families.

Authors & Co-authors:  Hosseini Leila Jansar LJ Samadi Ali Hussein AH Woldemichael Abraha A Gharebelagh Masoumeh Najaf MN Rezaei Satar S Rad Enayatollah Homaie EH

Study Outcome 

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Statistics
Citations :  Pelissari DM, Diaz-Quijano FA. Household crowding as a potential mediator of socioeconomic determinants of tuberculosis incidence in Brazil. PLoS One. 2017;12(4):e0176116.
Authors :  6
Identifiers
Doi : 10.3961/jpmph.20.568
SSN : 2233-4521
Study Population
Men
Mesh Terms
Adolescent
Other Terms
Crowding;Family characteristics;Health equity;Household;Iran
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Study Approach
Country of Study
Publication Country
Korea (South)