Health problems in the temporary housing in Taiwan

Yen-Hsiung Liao^*

Department of Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung.

DOI: 10.4236/health.2013.54088                

Abstract

To understand the health effects of the temporary housing after the September 1999 earthquake in Taiwan, we conducted the object observation, environmental monitoring, questionnaire survey, and disease analysis in both spring and autumn seasons to rate the presence and magnitude of exposures of environmental hazards. In the hot season more people identified poor ventilation, dampness, hot, odor, and insecurity as sources of hazards. The health effects on the cervix and vagina, liver, and respiratory disease assessed by clinic visits were corresponded to the environmental exposures, and complaints. It was suggested that reducing the risks to temporary housing residences by means of improving housing ventilation and providing community security when the permanent housing was not finished from the experience of Chi-Chi earthquake disaster in Taiwan.

Keywords

Earthquake; Temporary Housing; Health Effects; Ventilation; Community Security

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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