Consequences of Unhygienic Homes for Children

The California Governor's Office of Justice Planning has studied significant academic and medical research pertaining to children who grow up in unsatisfactory conditions. Findings show that children developing within chaos "experience stress and trauma that significantly affects their overall safety and health, including their behavioral, emotional and cognitive functioning." These children have low self-esteem, a sense of shame, substandard social skills and are more likely to have excessive school absenteeism rates.

Physical Conditions

• Unhygienic home environments can expose children to infectious diseases related to poor sanitation and lack of hygiene. Infected children in turn infect other children with whom they come in contact.

  Diarrhea, which causes irritation to the inner lining of the intestines, is common in children living in such conditions. It can be caused by dangerous bacteria such as salmonella and E. coli, viruses and parasitic infections, and spread by hand-to-mouth contact with infected items.

  Bacteria and irritants can cause highly-contagious conjunctivitis which affects the eyes. Asthma can be caused and exacerbated by dirt, dust and inhalation of other air-borne irritants.

Other Factors

• Unhygienic homes may also be homes that are in disrepair. Utilities, such as gas, water and electricity may not be functional or turned on, having serious negative effects on the lives of children in the home. The home may be unsafe, as well. Unsecured medications, fire hazards, and other dangers could risk the safety of the children.

  Unhygienic homes may be unhygienic because the adults in the home may have physical, psychological or substance abuse issues that have caused these conditions. If the adults cannot look after the home, their ability to look after their children is also questionable. The findings of the California Governor's Office of Justice Planning are that when these children become adults, they are likely to imitate the conditions in which they developed and the behaviors of their caretakers if intervention does not occur.

Consequences for Adults

• If a home is deemed a health risk to the children, the situation can be declared a case of child neglect and abuse, and local authorities have the power to remove children and place them in state care. Parents or guardians face prosecution and possible incarceration if found guilty of neglect and child abuse. They will also have difficulty in getting the children returned to their custody until the unhygienic conditions are rectified and they can prove they have a sanitary, hygienic and safe home.