Housing sanitation and acute respiratory tract infection among undergraduate students in Indonesia.

Acute respiratory tract infection is a common infectious disease in students living in crowded housing in Indonesia. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between air quality in boarding houses and ARI occurrence in students. A cross sectional study was undertaken on 89 houses occupied by students in Mulyorejo Village, Mulyorejo Subdistrict Surabaya determined by using a systemic random sampling method. Population density, ventilation, temperature and humidity were measured. The study concludes that there is significant association between the population density, ventilation, humidity and ARI occurrence but not temperature. Therefore, student boarding houses should provide good air quality and sanitation to reduce the incidence of acute respiratory tract infection.