Residents’ satisfaction with the degree of Covid-19 transmission control : study of two public rental housing estates in the Southern District

Abstract

Public rental housing (PRH) estates are in prolonged shortage that the queuing time for a rental flat exceeds five years. The government will speed up the construction of PRH estates in order to satisfy the great demand. Quality of PRH estates may be easily neglected. In respond to the recent outbreak of COVID-19, lesson shall be learnt to improve the quality of PRH estates so that residents can live in a more healthier environment. In this study, the residents’ satisfaction level on the degree of viral transmission control in PRH estates is investigated. Multiple variables are explored in terms of the modes of transmission from various literatures and news. Questionnaire survey is conducted online and face-to-face to collect the opinions regarding those variables. Mainly quantitative analysis is carried out after data cleaning and screening. Factor analysis is conducted to combine the correlated variables into a component, establishing a new conceptual model. The new model consists of Cleaning, Disinfection and Indoor Environment, Vertical Transmission through Drains and Pipes, Horizontal Transmission through Transom Window, Insect Vectors and Garbage as well as Drainage System Maintenance. The remaining component contains randomly correlated variables which is removed in Cronbach’s Alpha Test as it affects the internal consistency and reliability of the model. After the components are confirmed to be correlated with the overall satisfaction level in the Correlation Analysis, Multiple Regression Analysis using Stepwise Method is conducted to identify the effect of them on the overall satisfaction. The result suggests that the Cleaning component has the most significant effect, while the Vertical Transmission component is regarded as insignificant on the overall satisfaction level. Lastly, one-way ANOVA is carried out to observe the relationship between socio-demographic characteristics and the satisfaction levels. Discussion is made on the results obtained. In the regression analysis, Cleaning and Disinfection affects significantly on the satisfaction level as their impact on transmission control is well-known affecting most residents. Vertical Transmission includes the extension and alteration of vent pipes mitigating the impact of wake effect on viral transmission, while it mainly affects the top-level residents and many of them do not understand or realize its significance on the transmission control. Therefore, this component fails to impact significantly to the overall satisfaction level. This reflects their limited access to health information and lower ability to understand complicated health issues, as they are in general less educated. Apart from the components, the socio-demographic characteristics are contributive to the deviation on satisfaction level. It is observed that elderlies, the married or those with more family members, poorer and less educated occupants have a higher health risk perceptions leading to greater dissatisfaction. Recommendations are made based on the above results to improve the current practices, for example the selection and quality assurance of property management companies shall be focuses by raising the technical weighting during tender evaluation process and magnifying the consequences of their non-compliance to the requirements set by the Housing Authority itself. Notices in laymen terms shall be posted to provide residents with the important and updated health information. The government shall also consider residents’ background and health risks.