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Impact of Mould Exposure Education on Respiratory Health Protection Practices among Residents of Damp Housing in Nigeria

Abstract

Mould exposure is an important environmental health concern because damp indoor environments may support the growth of mould and increase exposure to airborne spores and other biological contaminants. Residents of damp housing in Nigeria may be exposed to mould because of water leakage, flooding, poor ventilation, condensation, inadequate drainage, overcrowding, and prolonged moisture accumulation within residential buildings. Prolonged exposure to damp and mouldy environments may be associated with respiratory irritation, allergic symptoms, asthma exacerbation, coughing, wheezing, and other respiratory health concerns, particularly among susceptible individuals. Limited awareness of the health risks associated with indoor mould and inadequate knowledge of effective prevention and control measures may contribute to continued exposure. Mould exposure education provides an opportunity to improve residents' awareness of dampness and mould-related health risks and promote appropriate respiratory health protection practices. Against this background, this study investigates the impact of mould exposure education on respiratory health protection practices among residents of damp housing in Nigeria. The study will be anchored on the Health Belief Model, Social Ecological Model, and Social Cognitive Theory. The Health Belief Model explains how residents' perceptions of susceptibility to mould-related respiratory problems, perceived severity of health effects, perceived benefits of preventive measures, perceived barriers, and cues to action may influence their health protection practices. The Social Ecological Model emphasizes the influence of individual, household, housing, community, environmental, socioeconomic, and institutional factors on mould exposure and respiratory health protection. Social Cognitive Theory emphasizes observational learning, behavioural modelling, self-efficacy, reinforcement, and environmental influences in developing and maintaining appropriate protective practices. Collectively, these theoretical perspectives provide a suitable framework for explaining how mould exposure education may influence respiratory health protection practices among residents of damp housing in Nigeria. The study will adopt a quantitative quasi-experimental or analytical cross-sectional research design. The study population will comprise adults aged 18 years and above residing in selected damp or mould-affected residential buildings across Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique will be used to select geopolitical zones, states, urban and rural local government areas, communities, neighbourhoods, residential buildings, households, and eligible respondents. Mould exposure education will be assessed using indicators such as exposure to mould-related health education, frequency and duration of educational sessions, knowledge of common sources of indoor dampness, recognition of visible mould growth, awareness of mould-related respiratory risks, knowledge of appropriate ventilation, moisture control, mould removal, protective equipment use during cleaning, safe disposal of contaminated materials, and awareness of when professional environmental or medical assistance should be sought. Respiratory health protection practices will be assessed using indicators such as maintaining adequate household ventilation, controlling indoor moisture, promptly addressing water leaks, reducing indoor dampness, appropriate cleaning of mould-affected surfaces, use of protective masks or other appropriate protection during mould cleaning, avoiding prolonged exposure to heavily mould-contaminated areas, improving airflow and sunlight where feasible, preventing recurrence of dampness, and seeking appropriate healthcare for persistent respiratory symptoms. Data will be collected using structured questionnaires, environmental observation checklists, housing-condition assessment tools, mould exposure education records, and pre-test and post-test assessments where a quasi-experimental intervention is adopted. Descriptive statistics will be used to summarize respondents' demographic characteristics, housing conditions, sources of dampness, mould exposure, respiratory protection knowledge, and protective practices. Inferential statistical techniques, including chi-square tests, t-tests, correlation analysis, and logistic or multiple regression analysis where appropriate, will be used to determine the impact of mould exposure education on respiratory health protection practices. Where a quasi-experimental design is adopted, respiratory health protection practice scores before and after the educational intervention may be compared with those of a comparison group to determine changes associated with the intervention. Diagnostic tests will also be conducted to assess the reliability, validity, and robustness of the findings. The study is expected to find that mould exposure education has a significant positive impact on respiratory health protection practices among residents of damp housing in Nigeria. Residents exposed to structured and practical mould-related health education are expected to demonstrate better protective practices than residents without comparable exposure. Education may improve residents' ability to identify indoor dampness and mould, understand associated respiratory health risks, improve household ventilation, control moisture sources, safely clean mould-affected areas, and reduce prolonged exposure to contaminated environments. Practical demonstrations may also improve residents' confidence in taking appropriate measures to prevent mould growth and protect household members during cleaning activities. However, poor housing conditions, inadequate drainage, flooding, persistent water leakage, overcrowding, limited household income, high repair costs, inadequate ventilation, and lack of landlord or housing-management support may reduce the effectiveness of education alone. The study therefore expects accessible, practical, culturally appropriate, and continuous mould exposure education, combined with improvements in housing conditions and moisture control, to contribute significantly to improved respiratory health protection practices among residents of damp housing in Nigeria. The study is expected to contribute to the literature on indoor mould exposure, damp housing, respiratory health, environmental health education, indoor air quality, housing-related health risks, health promotion, respiratory disease prevention, and public health in Nigeria. The findings will provide useful information to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Federal Ministry of Environment, state ministries responsible for health and housing, local government authorities, environmental health officers, housing agencies, landlords and property managers, healthcare professionals, public health practitioners, community health workers, development partners, and policymakers regarding strategies for reducing health risks associated with damp housing. The study will also provide evidence-based recommendations for strengthening mould exposure education, improving awareness of damp-housing health risks, promoting effective moisture and mould control, strengthening housing inspections and environmental health interventions, encouraging timely repair of water leaks and dampness, and developing sustainable environmental health programmes to protect residents living in damp housing across Nigeria.

Keywords: Mould exposure education, respiratory health protection practices, damp housing, indoor mould, respiratory health, indoor air quality, environmental health, housing-related health risks, health education, Nigeria, public health.