Community and Health Worker Perspectives on Environmental Hygiene and Disease Prevention in Urban Settings

Abstract

Rapid urbanization has intensified environmental health challenges, particularly in informal settlements where poor sanitation, unsafe water, overcrowding, and weak governance increase vulnerability to disease. This study presents a qualitative narrative review of existing literature to provide a general understanding of community and health worker perspectives on environmental hygiene and disease prevention in urban settings. The review highlights that environmental hygiene practices are shaped by socio-ecological factors at individual, community, organizational, and policy levels. While community-based interventions and the involvement of Community Health Workers (CHWs) show potential in improving disease prevention, their effectiveness is often constrained by limited training, inadequate incentives, resource shortages, and governance gaps. The study concludes that improving environmental hygiene in urban contexts requires integrated, multi-sectoral strategies that combine infrastructure development, workforce strengthening, community engagement, and accountable public health governance.