Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #112185

Norman King, MSc, Environmental Health Unit, Montreal Public Health Board, 1301 Sherbrooke East, Montreal, QC H2L 1M3, Canada, 514518-1400, ext.3245, nking@santepub-mtl.qc.ca

The World Health Organization has recently declared that health status is often determined more by the physical environment and social and economic conditions than by the provision of health care services. This theoretical consideration is backed up by scientific data showing that asthma prevalence in the developed world has increased over the past 20 years, and according to may authors, at least part of this increase can be attributed to poor indoor air quality in the residential setting. Due to this scientific consensus, the Board of public health in the Montreal region has assumed a leadership role in bringing the impact of poor housing conditions on health to the forefront with the result that different groups such as municipal inspectors, housing specialists and community groups who have formerly been working in parallel are now working together on this problem with many tangible results. In collaboration with the above mentioned groups we have been able to: • document the public health impact of poor housing conditions • work towards obtaining knowledge on the extent of housing conditions in Montreal that can pose a health risk • establish a collaborative approach whereby the regional public health board serves as a specialised resource to help our partners in the field manage public health problems that arise • work towards policy improvements on housing and health • develop new fields of interest such as the impact of transportation on neighbourhood and indoor air quality.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participants will be able to

• Identify the impact on health of poor housing conditions
• Understand the many ways in which a public health board can contribute to the improvement of housing conditions
• Begin to plan for the implementation of a public health program dealing with this problem in his or her public health agency

Keywords: Air Quality, Community-Based Public Health

Related Web page: www.santepub-mtl.qc.ca

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation