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Ambient Air Pollution and Respiratory Health in Sub-Saharan African Children: A Cross-Sectional Analysis

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  • Yutong Samuel Cai

    (Nuffield Department of Women’s & Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
    Deep Medicine Programme, Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3BD, UK
    Informal Cities Programme, Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3BD, UK)

  • Harry Gibson

    (Nuffield Department of Women’s & Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
    Deep Medicine Programme, Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3BD, UK
    Informal Cities Programme, Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3BD, UK)

  • Rema Ramakrishnan

    (National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7LF, UK)

  • Mohammad Mamouei

    (Nuffield Department of Women’s & Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
    Deep Medicine Programme, Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3BD, UK
    Informal Cities Programme, Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3BD, UK)

  • Kazem Rahimi

    (Nuffield Department of Women’s & Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
    Deep Medicine Programme, Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3BD, UK
    Informal Cities Programme, Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3BD, UK)

Abstract

Ambient air pollution is projected to become a major environmental risk in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Research into its health impacts is hindered by limited data. We aimed to investigate the cross-sectional relationship between particulate matter with a diameter ≤ 2.5 μm (PM 2.5 ) and prevalence of cough or acute lower respiratory infection (ALRI) among children under five in SSA. Data were collected from 31 Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) in 21 SSA countries between 2005–2018. Prior-month average PM 2.5 preceding the survey date was assessed based on satellite measurements and a chemical transport model. Cough and ALRI in the past two weeks were derived from questionnaires. Associations were analysed using conditional logistic regression within each survey cluster, adjusting for child’s age, sex, birth size, household wealth, maternal education, maternal age and month of the interview. Survey-specific odds ratios (ORs) were pooled using random-effect meta-analysis. Included were 368,366 and 109,664 children for the analysis of cough and ALRI, respectively. On average, 20.5% children had reported a cough, 6.4% reported ALRI, and 32% of children lived in urban areas. Prior-month average PM 2.5 ranged from 8.9 to 64.6 μg/m 3 . Pooling all surveys, no associations were observed with either outcome in the overall populations. Among countries with medium-to-high Human Development Index, positive associations were observed with both cough (pooled OR: 1.022, 95%CI: 0.982–1.064) and ALRI (pooled OR: 1.018, 95%CI: 0.975–1.064) for 1 μg/m 3 higher of PM 2.5 . This explorative study found no associations between short-term ambient PM 2.5 and respiratory health among young SSA children, necessitating future analyses using better-defined exposure and health metrics to study this important link.

Suggested Citation

  • Yutong Samuel Cai & Harry Gibson & Rema Ramakrishnan & Mohammad Mamouei & Kazem Rahimi, 2021. "Ambient Air Pollution and Respiratory Health in Sub-Saharan African Children: A Cross-Sectional Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-13, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:18:p:9729-:d:636221
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sam Heft-Neal & Jennifer Burney & Eran Bendavid & Marshall Burke, 2018. "Robust relationship between air quality and infant mortality in Africa," Nature, Nature, vol. 559(7713), pages 254-258, July.
    2. Nicole Wetsman, 2018. "Air-pollution trackers seek to fill Africa’s data gap," Nature, Nature, vol. 556(7701), pages 284-284, April.
    3. Refiloe Masekela & Aneesa Vanker, 2020. "Lung Health in Children in Sub-Saharan Africa: Addressing the Need for Cleaner Air," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-13, August.
    4. Yaqing Gao & Long Zhang & Ashish Kc & Yinping Wang & Siyu Zou & Chunyi Chen & Yue Huang & Xiaoyi Mi & Hong Zhou, 2021. "Housing environment and early childhood development in sub-Saharan Africa: A cross-sectional analysis," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 18(4), pages 1-18, April.
    5. Michela Sonego & Maria Chiara Pellegrin & Genevieve Becker & Marzia Lazzerini, 2015. "Risk Factors for Mortality from Acute Lower Respiratory Infections (ALRI) in Children under Five Years of Age in Low and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(1), pages 1-17, January.
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