Neoliberal housing and the health–poverty nexus: mapping of evidence using a systematic framework synthesis from Argentina and Chile

This systematic review responds to a critical gap in housing and health literature by examining how neoliberal housing policies impact low-income populations in Argentina and Chile. While existing reviews often link housing conditions to health outcomes, few consider the structural effects of neoliberal reforms that reframe housing as a commodity rather than a fundamental human need and a critical factor in health. A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines across Web of Science, Scopus and PubMed for studies published between 1990 and 2023. Impact studies examining housing policy and outcomes among low-income populations in Argentina and Chile were identified using a structured search strategy. After screening against predefined inclusion criteria, 22 studies were included. Data were synthesised using a framework-based approach, drawing on a structured matrix informed by the PISO framework to analyse evidence across four interlinked domains: health, economic resilience, social cohesion and urban spatial integration. Risk of bias was assessed using a bespoke, domain-sensitive tool designed to accommodate heterogeneous study designs and to inform interpretation of findings rather than study exclusion. Each study was independently assessed by two reviewers, with discrepancies resolved through consensus. A total of 22 studies were included. Housing systems were found to influence the health–poverty nexus through multiple interconnected pathways. Risk of bias assessment indicated variation in the strength and consistency of evidence across domains, with the most robust and consistently reported associations observed for physical and mental health outcomes linked to housing conditions. Economic findings highlighted the role of affordability and tenure in shaping vulnerability, although evidence was more variable and unevenly reported. Evidence relating to social cohesion and urban spatial dynamics offered important insights into community processes and spatial inequality but was comparatively weaker, often limited by methodological and reporting constraints. Neoliberal housing systems shape poverty and health through multiple, interrelated mechanisms, but the strength of available evidence is uneven across domains. Greater methodological transparency and more integrative research designs are needed to better capture how these processes interact. PROSPERO ID CRD42024602433.