Sustainable urban housing, environmental determinants, and reproductive health outcomes: A study of Wenzhou’s urban villages

This study examines the link between sustainable urban housing, environmental determinants, and maternal health outcomes in the urban villages of Wenzhou, China. The research explores the effects of housing quality and environmental stressors in urban villages on maternal stress, measured through self-reported anxiety and cortisol levels, and reproductive health outcomes such as preterm birth and low birth weight. A total of 300 pregnant women from three urban villages participated in the study, completing a structured survey and providing salivary cortisol samples as biomarkers of stress. The results indicate significant associations between overcrowded housing, poor sanitation, and elevated stress levels, supporting the hypothesis that environmental factors contribute to maternal stress and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Additionally, better housing conditions were linked to lower levels of stress and improved reproductive health outcomes. The findings underscore the need to enhance housing quality and improve sanitation as key components of maternal health policy in urbanizing regions. This study contributes to the growing body of literature that supports the integration of sustainable urban development and health interventions to improve maternal well-being in low-resource urban settings.