Survey on the Status of Rural Housing Health in Bonab and the Role of Health Care Providers in Improving Current Situation and Determine of Educational Needs

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Housing hygiene is one of the most important factors in improving the quality of life in human societies. Achieving development and progress is possible by paying attention to the health of the society people. Therefore, the observance of the principles of health in all aspects of life, including housing, must be considered. The purpose of this study was to investigate the health status of rural housing in Bonab County and the role of health workers in improving the current situation and determining educational needs. Material and methods: In this cross-sectional descriptive study, the target population was all 29 villages of Bonab County with 14532 households and 47596 people. From this target population, 14 villages with 10322 households and a population of 34197 people were selected as a statistical population through systematic random sampling. Data collection tools in this study included interviewing, observing, measuring and completing the standard checklist of environmental and occupational health status checklist. Finally, the collected data were statistically analyzed using version 22 of SPSS software. Results and discussion: The results of this study showed that 95.9% of rural dwellings had more than 70 square meters (m2) of infrastructure. More than 95% of households, the area of residential rooms was appropriate for the population .49.92% of the buildings were made of substandard materials (brick 3.17%, block 27% and wood 18.98%). 100% of rural households had access to safe drinking water at home through a private branch. 100% of rural households collected and disposed of solid waste and wastewater in a hygienic way. Also, 100% of rural households with livestock disposed of animal waste in a hygienic way. More than 90% of rural households were in good health status in terms of various parameters of residential rooms (floor, wall, ceiling, light). 100% of households used natural gas as fuel. 93.92% of households have a sanitation bathroom inside the home. 88.08% of households have the hygienic kitchen inside the home. In addition, 6.08% of households did not have the kitchen and 1.46% did not have the bathroom inside the home. The performance of the rural health workers in relation to housing health was excellent in holding training meetings for the public, and in visiting residential houses was moderate. Conclusion: In general, most of the housing hygiene indicators in the studied villages were appropriate and acceptable. However, the most important health priorities and educational needs in relation to housing hygiene were the buildings made of substandard materials, the lack and or unsanitary kitchens and the lack and or unsanitary bathrooms in rural households, respectively. Therefore, the performance of rural health workers should be focused on promoting these indicators and maintaining the existing conditions of other indicators housing health. Keywords: Housing health, village, Bonab County, rural health worker, educational needs