Helen Viggers

B.E.(Hons), DPH, GradDipApplStat
Research Fellow, University of Otago, Wellington

Helen's public health research has centred around three areas:

1.            The effect of home warmth interventions on health. The interventions examined have been those that might feasibly be reproduced on a policy scale (insulation, sustainable heating, fuel vouchers for vulnerable people). The health consequences examined include both objective measures (e.g. doctors’ visits), and subjective measures (e.g. self-reported wellbeing).

2.            Household fuel use and temperature. This includes work on fuel poverty, and drivers of fuel use as well as the spatial variation of fuel use in New Zealand.

3.            The factors associated with household transience, and the location of the family dwelling. She has also done some work on homelessness.

Helen trained originally in engineering, and enjoys applying her quantitative skills in the realm of public health. She has worked on the Housing, Insulation and Health study, and the Housing, Heating and Health study; and is currently working on the Warm Homes for Elder New Zealanders study.

Key publications

  4. Ingham, T.R.
    Keall, M.
    Jones, B. Aldridge, D. Latimer, M. Dowell, A. Davies, C.
    Crane, J.
    Draper, J.B. Bailey, L.O.
    Viggers, H.
    Stanley, T.V. Leadbitter, P.
    Howden-Chapman, P.
    (2019).
    Damp mouldy housing and early childhood hospital admissions for acute respiratory infection: a case control study.
    Thorax,
    74: 849–857.
  9. Chapman, R.
    Howden-Chapman, P.
    Viggers, H.
    O'Day, D. Kennedy, M.
    (2009).
    Retrofitting housing with insulation: a cost-benefit analysis of a randomised community trial.
    Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health,
    63(4),
  12. Howden-Chapman, P.
    Crane, J.
    Matheson, A.
    Viggers, H.
    Cunningham, M. Blakely, T. O’Dea, D.
    Cunningham, C.
    Woodward, A. Saville-Smith, A.
    Baker, M.
    Waipara, N.
    (2005).
    Retrofitting houses with insulation to reduce health inequalities: Aims and methods of a clustered, randomised community-based trial
    Social Science and Medicine,
    61(12, 2600-2610.
  13. Howden-Chapman, P.
    Viggers, H.
    Matheson, A.
    Crane, J.
    Waipara, N. Blakely, T. Cunningham, M.
    Cunningham, C.
    Woodward, A. O’Dea, D.
    Saville-Smith, K.
    Douwes, J. Marshall, C. Skelton, P.
    (2002)
    A national study of the health effects of insulating homes: the baseline data (Report 2).
    University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand

    A national study of the health effects of insulating homes: the baseline data (Report 2), August 2002. He Kainga Oranga Housing and Health Research Programme Department of Public Health Wellington

  14. Howden-Chapman, P.
    Crane, J.
    Blakely, T. Cunningham, M. O’Dea, D. Woodward, A.
    Saville-Smith, K.
    Waipara, N. Douwes, J. Matheson, A.
    Viggers, H.
    Marshall, C. Skelton, P.
    (2002)
    A national study of the health effects of insulating homes: the baseline data (Report 1).
    University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand

    A national study of the health effects of insulating homes: the baseline data (Report 1), March 2002. He Kāinga Oranga Housing and Health Research Programme Department of Public Health Wellington S

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