Assessment of Housing Characteristics and Crowding Index in BenueSouth Senatorial District, Nigeria
Keywords:
Benue South, Crowding Index, Housing Characteristics, NigeriaAbstract
Background: Housing is a fundamental component of human settlement and a key determinant of health and well-being.
In Nigeria, despite numerous housing policies and reforms, implementation remains limited, leaving many citizens in
substandard housing conditions. Recurrent insecurity and community displacement have further worsened the situation.
This study assessed housing characteristics and the crowding index in the Benue South Senatorial District of Nigeria.
Methods: A community-based, cross-sectional study was conducted among 500 households selected through a
multistage sampling technique across nine local government areas. Data were collected using structured interviewer-
administered questionnaires and direct observation of housing conditions. Analyses were performed using SPSS version
25.0, with descriptive statistics summarised in frequency tables and Chi-square tests used to examine associations
between sociodemographic factors and overcrowding, with a p-value set at 5%.
Results:A total of 423 respondents participated (response rate: 99.8%), aged 17–85 years (mean = 46.1 ± 15.5). Males
constituted 66.7%, 94.3% had formal education, and 85.6% were gainfully employed. Overall, housing conditions were
poor across most indicators. Accessibility (77.1%), thermal comfort (68.1%), and lighting (60.3%) were relatively
adequate, while fewer households met standards for sanitation (39.7%), drainage (32.4%), potable water (23.4%), and
ventilation (22.7%). Most houses were concrete structures with zinc roofing (60.3%), and 19.9% of households were
overcrowded (mean household size = 7.4 ± 3.7). Settlement type and occupation were significantly associated with
overcrowding (p = 0.000 and p = 0.001).
Conclusion: Housing in Benue South Senatorial District is moderately durable but marked by deficits in sanitation,
ventilation, and water access.With one-fifth of households overcrowded, the findings underscore the need for evidence-
based housing policies and integrated interventions to enhance living conditions and promote public health in line with
the Sustainable Development Goals.
References
1. Alidoust S, Huang W. A decade of research on
housing and health: A systematic literature review.
Rev Environ Health. 2021. doi:10.1515/Reveh-
2021-0121.
2. Swope CB, Hernández D. Housing as a determinant
of health equity:A conceptual model. Soc Sci Med.
2 0 1 9 ; 2 4 3 : 1 1 2 5 7 1 .
doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2019.112571.
3. World Health Organisation. WHO housing and
health guidelines. Geneva: WHO; 2018. Licence:
CCBY-NC-SA3.0 IGO.
4. Wu S, Fu Y, Yang Z. Housing condition, health
status, and age-friendly housing modification in
Eu rope : The las t reso r t? Bu i ld Env i ron .
2 0 2 2 ; 2 1 5 : 1 0 8 9 5 6 .
doi:10.1016/j.buildenv.2022.108956.
5. Kuddus MA, Tynan E, McBryde E. Urbanisation: a
problem for the rich and the poor? Public Health
Rev. 2020;41:1. doi:10.1186/s40985-019-0116-0.
6. Agabi J, Odekunle F. Housing quality of residential
neighbourhoods in Nigeria: focus on low-density
areas of Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State. Covenant J Res
Built Environ. 2014;2(2):140–156.
7. UN-Habitat. The state of African cities 2010:
Governance, inequality and urban land markets.
Nairobi: United Nations Human Settlements
Programme; 2010.
8. Andrea CG, Eileen MM, Wendy S. Unintentional
home injuries across the lifespan: Problems and
s o l u t i o n s . A n n u R e v P u b l i c H e a l t h .
2015;36:231–253.
9. Hossain ME, Islam MM, Miah M, HaqueW, Vinjé
J, Rahman MZ, et al. Viral etiology of acute
gastroenteritis among forcibly displaced Myanmar
nationals and adjacent host population in
Bangladesh . J Infect Dis . 2021;224(Suppl
7):S864–S872. doi:10.1093/infdis/jiab466.
10. Memmott P, Lansbury N, Go-Sam C, Nash D,
Redmond AM, Barnes S, et al. Aboriginal social
housing in remote Australia: crowded, unrepaired
and raising the risk of infectious diseases. Glob
D i s c o u r s e . 2 0 2 2 ; 1 2 ( 2 ) : 2 5 5 – 2 8 4 .
doi:10.1332/204378921X16315375796362.
11. Osayomi T, Ogbonnaiye OB, Iyanda AE. Hotspots
and drivers of acute respiratory infection among
children in Nigeria. S Afr J Child Health.
2 0 2 0 ; 1 4 ( 4 ) : 2 2 4 – 2 2 7 .
doi:10.7196/SAJCH.2020.v14i4.173.
12. Srivastava GN, Mishra AP. The association of
household crowding and tuberculosis incidence
among women of Varanasi city:A study in medical
g e o g r a p h y . N a t l G e o g r J I n d i a .
2019;65(2):198–205.
13. Aribigbola A. Housing policy formulation in
developing countries: Evidence of programme
implementation from Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria. J
H u m E c o l . 2 0 1 1 ; 3 5 ( 2 ) : 1 2 1 – 1 3 1 .
doi:10.1080/09709274.2011.11906396.
14. Ibem EO,Aduwo EB. Public housing provision and
user satisfaction in Ondo State, Nigeria. Br J Arts
Soc Sci. 2012;8(1):103–111.
15. Ademiluyi IA. Public housing delivery strategies in
Nigeria: A historical perspective of policies and
p r o g r a m m e s . J S u s t a i n D e v A f r .
2010;12(6):153–161.
16. Asa OA , Morak inyo KO , Mused iq O . An
assessment of housing conditions, characteristics
and neighbourhood quality in Ile-Ife, Osun State,
Nigeria. J Environ Manag Saf. 2017;8(1):86–104.
17. Awe FC, Afolabi FI. Assessment of housing quality
in urban core of Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria. Civ Environ
Res. 2017;9(7):37–43.
18. AdetunjiMA, Oyeleye OI. Housing crisis and urban
slum proliferation in Nigeria: Challenges and policy
im p l i c a t i o n s . J C o n t em p U r b a n A ff .
2021;5(2):1–11. doi:10.25034/ijcua.2021.v5n2-1.
19. United Nations Department of Economic and Social
Affairs (UN DESA).World urbanization prospects:
The 2018 revision. New York: United Nations;
2 0 1 9 . A v a i l a b l e f r o m :
hhtps://population.un.org/wup/
20. UN-Habitat.World cities report 2020: The value of
sustainable urbanization. Nairobi: United Nations
Human Settlements Programme; 2020. Available
from:https://unhabitat.org/wcr/
21. World Bank. Urban development overview.
Washington, DC: TheWorld Bank; 2023.
22. Taofeek I. Research methodology and dissertation
writing for health and allied health professionals.
Abuja: Cress Global Link Ltd; 2009.
Audu O*, et al., Assessment of Housing Characteristics and Crowding Index in Benue South
J Biomed Res. Clin Pract | Vol 8 | No 3 |
23. Ibem EO. Residents' perception of the quality of
public housing in urban areas in Ogun State,
N i g e r i a . I n t J Q u a l R e l i a b
M a n a g . 2 0 1 2 ; 2 9 ( 9 ) : 1 0 0 0 – 1 0 1 8 .
doi:10.1108/02656711211272917.
24. Jiboye AD. Evaluating the pattern of residential
quality in Nigeria: The case of Osogbo township.
Archit Eng. 2010;8(3):307–316.
25. Christopher O, Jonathan AO. Assessment of social
factors that influence residential area preference in
Otukpo town, Benue State, Nigeria. Glob J Hum
Soc Sci. 2018;18(1):19–22.
26. National Population Commission (NPC) [Nigeria],
ICF. Nigeria demographic and health survey 2018.
Abuja (Nigeria) and Rockville (MD, USA): NPC
and ICF; 2019.
27. Okoye PU, Adepoju OA. Assessment of housing
quality and environmental health conditions in
urban Nigeria: Implications for sustainable housing
delivery. J Build Perform. 2020;11(1):45–56.
28. Adebayo AM, Iweka AC. Evaluation of housing
quality in urban areas of Nigeria: A case study of
selected residential neighbourhoods in Ibadan, Oyo
State. J Environ Des Manag. 2014;6(1):15–25.
29. Okoye PU, Adepoju OA. Assessment of housing
quality and environmental health conditions in
urban Nigeria: Implications for sustainable housing
delivery. J Build Perform. 2020;11(1):45–56.
30. Akinyemi FO, Odumosu AO, Alonge ST. Urban
poverty, housing and living conditions in Nigeria:A
study of selected slum settlements in Lagos. Int J
Res Soc Sci. 2016;6(8):45–59.
31. United Nations. Transforming our world: The 2030
agenda for sustainable development. New York:
Un i t ed N a t ion s ; 2015 . Av a i l ab l e f rom :
