Table 2 Summarized percentages for household characteristics of the study populations from the districts of Colombo and Kandy

Accessibility

Main road

88 (8.8)

126 (12.6)

0.30

135 (13.5)

138 (13.8)

0.42

Medium/small road

867 (86.7)

823 (82.3)

825 (82.5)

810 (81.0)

Foot path/no road

45 (4.5)

51 (5.1)

40 (4.0)

52 (5.2)

Size of the homestead (perch)

< 5

175 (17.5)

295 (29.5)

0.02*

208 (20.8)

355 (35.5)

0.03*

6–10

275 (27.5)

301 (30.1)

295 (29.5)

312 (31.2)

11–25

403 (40.3)

298 (29.8)

387 (38.7)

253 (25.3)

26–50

93 (9.3)

61 (6.1)

64 (6.4)

43 (4.3)

> 50

54 (5.4)

45 (4.5)

46 (4.6)

37 (3.7)

Temporary or permanent nature of the human dwelling

Permanent

974 (97.4)

935 (93.5)

0.12

967 (96.7)

945 (94.5)

0.16

Temporary

26 (2.6)

65 (6.5)

33 (3.3)

55 (5.5)

No. of houses in the land plot

1

911 (91.1)

942 (94.2)

0.17

975 (97.5)

886 (88.6)

0.08

2–3

87 (8.7)

58 (5.8)

25 (2.5)

114 (11.4)

> 4

2 (0.2)

0 (0)

0 (0)

0 (0)

Type of household

Individual house

952 (95.2)

858 (85.8)

0.11

950 (95.0)

862 (86.2)

0.14

< 5 floors

48 (4.8)

142 (14.2)

50 (5.0)

138 (13.8)

> 5 floors

0 (0)

0 (0)

0 (0)

0 (0)

Other

0 (0)

0 (0)

0 (0)

0 (0)

Residential function of the household

Residential only

947 (94.7)

898 (89.8)

0.15

950 (95.0)

872 (87.2)

0.14

Residential and commercial

40 (4.0)

48 (4.8)

38 (3.8)

41 (4.1)

Small industry

13 (1.3)

54 (5.4)

12 (1.2)

67 (6.7)

Commercial only

0 (0)

0 (0)

0 (0)

20 (2.0)

Status of the household

Good

281 (28.1)

164 (16.4)

0.09

132 (13.2)

45 (4.5)

0.04*

Moderate

613 (61.3)

606 (60.6)

796 (79.6)

661 (66.1)

Poor

106 (10.6)

230 (23.0)

72 (7.2)

294 (29.4)

Number of rooms in the house

1

52 (5.2)

26 (2.6)

0.17

7 (0.7)

32 (3.2)

0.19

2–3

903 (90.3)

862 (86.2)

916 (91.6)

939 (93.9)

4–6

41 (4.1)

100 (10.0)

61 (6.1)

26 (2.6)

> 6

4 (0.4)

12 (1.2)

16 (1.6)

3 (0.3)

Vegetation coverage

Grass

385 (38.5)

627 (62.7)

0.03*

382 (38.2)

620 (62.0)

0.04*

Bushes

397 (39.7)

617 (61.7)

430 (43.0)

646 (64.6)

Small trees

469 (46.9)

616 (61.6)

485 (48.5)

425 (42.5)

Large trees

468 (46.8)

479 (47.9)

366 (36.6)

210 (21.0)

Surrounding land-use practices in the neighborhood

Agricultural areas

125 (12.5)

72 (7.2)

0.03*

78 (7.8)

55 (5.5)

0.02*

Water bodies

17 (1.7)

83 (8.3)

21 (2.1)

103 (10.3)

Built-up

620 (62.0)

892 (89.2)

655 (65.5)

931 (93.1)

Marshy

153 (15.3)

326 (32.6)

52 (5.2)

241 (24.1)

Abundant

102 (10.2)

207 (20.7)

97 (9.7)

197 (19.7)

Other

33 (3.3)

41 (4.1)

28 (2.8)

45 (4.5)

Toilets

Separate (outside)

699 (69.9)

775 (77.5)

0.31

431 (43.1)

614 (61.4)

0.04*

Attached

181 (18.1)

118 (11.8)

324 (32.4)

225 (22.5)

Both

109 (10.9)

87 (8.7)

245 (24.5)

116 (11.6)

None

11 (1.1)

20 (2.0)

0 (0)

45 (4.5)

Water source

Well

8 (0.8)

6 (0.6)

0.14

85 (8.5)

55 (5.5)

0.11

Tube-well

27 (2.7)

8 (0.8)

0 (0)

0 (0)

Pipe

964 (96.4)

961 (96.1)

890 (89.0)

912 (91.2)

Other

1 (0.1)

25 (2.5)

25 (2.5)

33 (3.3)

Protection of tank, n (%)

Fully covered

938 (93.8)

811 (81.1)

0.06

933 (93.3)

635 (63.5)

0.03*

Partially covered

40 (4.0)

114 (11.4)

22 (2.2)

185 (18.5)

Not covered

22 (2.2)

75 (7.5)

45 (4.5)

180 (18.0)

Roofing

Concrete

290 (29.0)

353 (35.3)

0.04*

257 (25.7)

382 (38.2)

0.03*

Roof tiles

392 (39.2)

313 (31.3)

412 (41.2)

373 (37.3)

Asbestos

673 (67.3)

837 (83.7)

708 (70.8)

845 (84.5)

Metal sheets

259 (25.9)

482 (48.2)

242 (24.2)

450 (45.0)

Other

49 (4.9)

214 (21.4)

53.8 (5.38)

171 (17.1)