Public Health Registrar, Bradford Council, Bradford, UK.
Senior Research Fellow, Department of Health Sciences, University of York, Seebohm Rowntree Building, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK.
Perspect Public Health. 2024 May;144(3):187-198. doi: 10.1177/17579139241245346. Epub 2024 Apr 14.
Addressing fuel poverty is a critical public health issue given its recent rise in prevalence across Europe. Although previous research identifies national risk markers of fuel poverty, evidence is lacking on whether these are consistent across local geographies, and the equity of local interventions. In the UK's current economic climate, it is more crucial than ever that services benefit households in greatest need. This study aimed to determine significant predictors of fuel poverty among households in Bradford, England, comparing them to national-level predictors, and evaluate if households possessing significant fuel poverty predictors were equitably referred to a local fuel poverty service (Warm Homes Healthy People, WHHP).
A multivariate logistic regression model determined significant fuel poverty predictors in Bradford using household-level data from the Energy Saving Trust and the Low Income High Costs fuel poverty definition. Statistical testing highlighted significant differences in predictors of fuel poverty between households referred to WHHP and all Bradford households.
Significant ( < .05) predictors of fuel poverty included: living in an area with lower average household incomes and higher proportion of ethnic minority individuals, and living in a property with a lower energy efficiency rating. Households living in a detached or older property, and homeowners were more likely to be fuel poor. Differences in the direction of the relationship with fuel poverty were identified between some national and local predictors. Most predictors were significantly ( < .05) overrepresented among WHHP households, suggesting equitable service reach. Ethnic minorities, younger people, and multiperson households were underrepresented.
Local fuel poverty predictors were similar to many national-level predictors, but identified differences in the direction of the relationship between some national and local predictors reaffirm the value of locally focused research. WHHP successfully targeted households possessing key predictors, but should ensure that ethnic minorities, younger people, and multiperson households are equitably referred.
鉴于燃料贫困在欧洲的患病率最近有所上升，解决这一问题是一个至关重要的公共卫生问题。尽管先前的研究确定了燃料贫困的国家风险指标，但缺乏证据表明这些指标在当地地理环境中是否一致，以及当地干预措施是否公平。在英国当前的经济环境下，服务惠及最需要的家庭比以往任何时候都更加重要。本研究旨在确定英格兰布拉德福德家庭燃料贫困的显著预测因素，将其与国家一级的预测因素进行比较，并评估是否将拥有显著燃料贫困预测因素的家庭公平地转介到当地燃料贫困服务（温暖家庭健康人，WHHP）。
使用来自节能信托基金和低收入高成本燃料贫困定义的家庭层面数据，采用多元逻辑回归模型确定布拉德福德的显著燃料贫困预测因素。统计检验突出了转介到 WHHP 的家庭和所有布拉德福德家庭之间燃料贫困预测因素的显著差异。
燃料贫困的显著（ < .05）预测因素包括：居住在平均家庭收入较低、少数民族人口比例较高的地区，以及居住在能源效率评级较低的房产中。居住在独立式或较旧房产中的家庭，以及业主更有可能陷入燃料贫困。一些国家和地方预测因素与燃料贫困的关系方向存在差异。WHHP 家庭中大多数预测因素显著（ < .05），表明服务覆盖面公平。少数民族、年轻人和多人家庭的代表性不足。
当地燃料贫困预测因素与许多国家一级的预测因素相似，但一些国家和地方预测因素之间关系方向的差异再次证实了开展以当地为重点的研究的价值。WHHP 成功地针对拥有关键预测因素的家庭，但应确保少数民族、年轻人和多人家庭得到公平转介。
