TABLE 1—
Demographic Characteristics of Low-Income Housing Residents and Environmental Characteristics of Their Households: Health in Common Study, Boston, MA, 2005–2009
| Characteristic | No. (%) |
| Age, y | |
| 18–29 | 153 (19) |
| 30–39 | 218 (26) |
| 40–49 | 169 (21) |
| 50–59 | 145 (18) |
| ≥ 60 | 140 (17) |
| Gender | |
| Men | 169 (20) |
| Women | 659 (80) |
| Race/ethnicity | |
| Hispanic | 341 (41) |
| Non-Hispanic White | 93 (11) |
| Non-Hispanic African American | 316 (38) |
| Other | 74 (9) |
| Income below poverty thresholda | |
| Yes | 445 (58) |
| No | 327 (42) |
| Survey language | |
| English | 445 (54) |
| Spanish | 221 (27) |
| Haitian Creole | 162 (20) |
| Education, y | |
| ≤ 8 | 152 (21) |
| 9–11.5 | 123 (17) |
| 12 | 200 (27) |
| ≥ 13 | 261 (35) |
| Child < 5 y in household | |
| Yes | 217 (26) |
| No | 608 (74) |
| Adult > 65 y in household | |
| Yes | 129 (16) |
| No | 694 (84) |
| Tenure in housing development, y | |
| 0–5 | 382 (48) |
| > 5–10 | 184 (23) |
| > 10 | 226 (29) |
| Respondent smoking status | |
| Never | 534 (64) |
| Former | 117 (14) |
| Current | 177 (21) |
| Pests observed in unit in past y | |
| Cockroaches | 389 (47) |
| Mice | 351 (42) |
| Rats | 42 (5) |
| Bedbugs | 63 (8) |
| Mold observed in past y | |
| Yes | 276 (34) |
| No | 545 (66) |
| Mold observed during inspection | |
| Yes | 125 (15) |
| No | 696 (85) |
| Used stove to heat apartment in past y | |
| Yes | 107 (13) |
| No | 719 (87) |
| Environmental indexes (problems found) | |
| Chemical (frequent indoor use of pesticides or air fresheners) | 663 (81) |
| Mold (visible mold or mold treatment reported by resident or mold observed during inspection) | 358 (43) |
| Secondhand smoke (any smoking within home) | 172 (22) |
| Pests (frequent sightings of mice, cockroaches, or rats) | 443 (54) |
| Combustion byproducts (gas stove without mechanical kitchen exhaust or use of gas stove to heat apartment) | 415 (52) |
| Inadequate ventilation (kitchen or bathroom fans not working, absent, or recirculating air) | 701 (86) |
| Summed index | |
| Low exposure (0–3) | 443 (54) |
| High exposure (4–6) | 385 (46) |
Note. The sample size was n = 828. Mean number of residents per household was 3.0 (SD = 1.5; range = 1–13). One participant per household was surveyed for demographic characteristics and study staff conducted a brief assessment of the housing unit for environmental data.
a
As defined by the US Census Bureau for 2008.18