Abstract

Understanding the mechanisms of the urban poverty cycle and identifying the factors that either break or sustain it hold significant scientific value. While some factors help interrupt this cycle, others unfortunately perpetuate it. Inadequate housing emerges as a central catalyst that sustains urban poverty and negatively affects individuals’ physical, mental, and social health, as well as overall community welfare. In this article, we employ a comprehensive analytical methodology to identify indicators of inadequate housing that interrupt the urban poverty cycle and threaten health. We classify these indicators into three broad domains encompassing ten dimensions. We also critically analyze the health outcomes associated with each indicator. Our analysis reveals a substantial body of research on the physical aspects of inadequate housing and its extensive impact on health. The evidence underscores the importance of engaging policymakers, planners, and managers to address poverty holistically and to consider its broad social repercussions. This research constitutes a significant step toward understanding the links among inadequate housing, urban poverty, and health. The framework we propose offers a solid foundation for advancing research, policy, and interventions aimed at improving quality of life and reducing inequalities in urban communities.



Extended Abstract

Introduction

this article addresses the persistent challenge of urban poverty and its intricate relationship with inadequate housing. Recognizing inadequate housing as a critical component within multidimensional poverty frameworks, the research underscores its role in perpetuating the cycle of urban poverty by constraining individuals within unfavorable circumstances. Moving beyond a simplistic definition of shelter, adequate housing is defined to encompass essential elements such as security of tenure, optimal location, access to vital services, and affordability – all fundamental for fostering physical, mental, and social well-being. The compelling necessity for this research stems from the global struggle to ensure adequate housing, a struggle intensified by urban neo-liberalization and the prevalence of private ownership, which have significantly limited access to suitable living spaces for a substantial portion of the urban populace. The central objective of this article is to meticulously explore the various dimensions, indicators, and underlying mechanisms through which inadequate housing exerts its influence on social health. Specifically, the study aims to precisely identify the key indicators within inadequate housing that impact social health and to rigorously analyze how each of these indicators constitutes a threat. The significant contribution of this article lies in its capacity to offer novel insights into the complex interplay between housing and health. Crucially, it helps bridge the existing gap in our understanding of how inadequate housing specifically impacts social health and provides a robust set of comprehensive indicators for its evaluation. Furthermore, the research delves into the often-underexamined role of inadequate housing in sustaining urban poverty, systematically connecting each dimension and indicator to the broader cycle of urban poverty, thereby establishing a solid foundation for future scholarly inquiry.







Methodology

We implemented a PSALSA–PRISMA integrated approach, merging the SALSA framework and the PRISMA guidelines to perform a structured, comprehensive literature review. Searches in Web of Science and Scopus yielded 241 records; after applying predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria and conducting quality appraisal, 29 articles were selected for in-depth analysis. Extracted data were categorized into general and specific categories and then analyzed to understand the relationships between housing dimensions, indicators, and health outcomes.

Results and discussion

In this article, we conducted a systematic review of the English-language literature to identify indicators of inadequate housing and the threats each of these indicators poses to health. In total, 59 indicators were identified. Studies of selected researches have revealed that inappropriate housing affects health in three areas: a- biological functions of housing, b- neighborhood and community, and c- Housing tenure. In order to facilitate better understanding and analysis, indicators of biological functions of housing were categorized into six dimensions, neighborhood and community indicators into three dimensions, and Housing tenure indicators into one dimension. Afterward, each of these fields, dimensions, indicators, and threats was analyzed in detail.



Conclusion

The systematic review of indicators of inadequate housing provides important insight into poverty's complex nature and its impact on health. Throughout this review, we emphasized the importance of addressing structural and systemic factors that perpetuate poverty and inequality, including inadequate housing. Based on the evidence presented in this review, it is imperative that policy makers, researchers, and professionals collaborate to adopt a comprehensive approach to addressing poverty and its impact on health.



Funding

There is no funding support.



Authors’ Contribution

Authors contributed equally to the conceptualization and writing of the article. All of the authors approved thecontent of the manuscript and agreed on all aspects of the work declaration of competing interest none.



Conflict of Interest

Authors declared no conflict of interest.



Acknowledgments

We are grateful to all the scientific consultants of this paper.