365Wellness: Study shows when housing quality is poor, children suffer
UC expert finds poor-quality housing is independently associated with poor pediatric health
Samantha Boch, PhD, of the UC College of Nursing is the lead author of a new study that finds poor-quality housing is independently associated with poorer pediatric health, and suggests ways health care providers and housing programs may address those findings. The study, published in the Journal of Child Health Care, was the subject of an article published by 365Wellness.
The study found each additional housing problem was associated with 43% greater odds of having a poorer health status.
Samantha Boch, PhD, of the UC College of Nursing/Photo/provided
“It was important, however, to account for other factors that are understood to impact health, and so the study used a modeling strategy that went beyond housing quality alone,” says Boch.
“Even when you adjust for demographic factors like race, ethnicity and disability, and housing-related issues like inability to pay rent or neighborhood safety, poor housing quality has an independent association with poorer health and higher health care use,” she says.
The study also found poor housing quality was independently associated with a greater number of medical visits for children (as were inability to pay utilities, rent or mortgage and living in a nonmetropolitan home).
Lead image/CDC.
Next Lives Here
The University of Cincinnati is classified as a Research 1 institution by the Carnegie Commission and is ranked in the National Science Foundation's Top-35 public research universities. UC's medical, graduate and undergraduate students and faculty investigate problems and innovate solutions with real-world impact. Next Lives Here.
Related Stories
‘Designer drug’ shows early neuroprotective signal in acute ischemic stroke
October 28, 2025
Medscape highlighted new trial results led by the University of Cincinnati's Eva Mistry that found an experimental drug shows promise in protecting injured brain cells for patients with acute ischemic stroke.
Is menstrual fluid ‘the most overlooked opportunity’ in women’s health?
October 27, 2025
The Guardian recently reported that period blood has long been thought of as ‘stinky and useless’, but startups are exploring using the fluid to test for a wide range of health conditions — including endometriosis.
What is squalane, and how does it work to moisturize skin?
October 27, 2025
The University of Cincinnati's Kelly Dobos was featured in a Women's Health article discussing squalane, an ingredient being increasingly used in moisturizing skincare products.