Abstract

BARCELO PEREZ, Carlos  and  GUZMAN PINEIRO, Raisa. Potential effect caused by urban noise in housewives from Havana City. Rev Cubana Hig Epidemiol [online]. 2008, vol.46, n.2. ISSN 0253-1751.

AIM: to redesign and estimate the noise level of traffic in the capital, defining the potential impact of urbanism and traffic on the well-being and health of housewives. METHODS: a combined cross-sectional study was conducted in housewives, using a questionnaire of basic principles; the perceived stress test (PST), and an abridged test of health condition (SF-36) in 133 subjects aged 20-40 living in characteristic sites of Havana City (2005-2006). To define the magnitude of traffic noise pollution, we applied a combined cross-sectional design. RESULTS: health condition of housewives and the inconveniences were related to the urban scenario of the residents, excepting the perceived stress. Slope and the lateral closing of the road, the oldest age, the time of residence, and the antecedents of extra-auditory affections are related to a worse health state. CONCLUSIONS: music and phonation were identified as the most relevant source of acoustic pollution followed by traffic. A longer time of residence seems to be related to a loss of traffic identification as a noise source, but noise perception increases with the home stay, educational level, job complexity, and pathological history. There wasn't a linear relathionship of perceived stress with the urban scenario, the social characterization, and the personal pathological history of housewives.

Keywords : Noise level; health state; extra-auditory affections; urban scenario; well-being.

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