Introduction:

The research's objective was to explore the social and housing conditions of victims of forced displacement living in public housing and their relationship with the perceived morbidity caused by acute diarrheal disease and acute respiratory infection.

Materials and methods:

A quantitative component of a mixed method design research developed on forced displaced population living in Turbo, Antioquia. The information was collected through a survey and checklist poll applied to a representative and randomized sample of 196 houses. An analysis of the collected data was conducted through descriptive and bivariate statistical techniques and multivariate binomial regression models for prevalence ratios (PR).

Results:

Children younger than 5 years were more likely to suffer symptoms related to acute respiratory infection (ARIS) [PR 2.07; CI 95 % 1.60-2.67] and acute diarrheal disease (ADD) [PR 1,90; CI 95 % 1,24-2,91]. The prevalence of symptoms related to ADIS was higher in women [PR 1,24; CI 95 % 1.05-1.47] and were also connected with houses with two or less rooms for resting and sleeping purposes [PR 1,42; CI 95 % 1,05-1,91] and with houses with soil and sand floors [PR 1,42; CI 95 % 1.23-2.29]. The prevalence of symptoms related to ADD doubled in houses where the kitchen is not separated from other domestic areas [PR 2.34; CI 95 % 1,34-4,07] and where no detergents or disinfectants in cleaning tasks are used [PR 2.11; CI 95 % 1.38-3.22].

Conclusions:

In the studied public housing, children are more likely to develop symptoms of ARIS and ADD. These conditions may increase when the floor is deteriorated, where exclusive areas exclusively for cooking are lacking, where there are not suitable areas to sleep, and inadequate hygiene habits.

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