A global analysis of the regional variation in the symptoms of acute respiratory infection during childhood: Epidemics and their association with environmental vulnerability. (September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chiao, Chi; Deji-Abiodun, Oluwafunmilade
• Is Part Of: Health & place. Volume 65(2020:Sep.)
• Publication Date: 2020-09
• Subjects: Acute respiratory infection (ARI) -- Environmental vulnerability -- Preschool age children -- Multilevel analysis -- Demographic and health survey; Health -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Health services accessibility -- Periodicals; Public health -- Periodicals; Political planning -- Periodicals; Social medicine -- Periodicals; Epidemiology -- Periodicals; Health Policy -- Periodicals; Health Services Accessibility -- Periodicals; Public Health -- Periodicals; Public Policy -- Periodicals; Sociology, Medical -- Periodicals; Épidémiologie -- Périodiques; Politique sanitaire -- Périodiques; Santé, Services de -- Accessibilité -- Périodiques; Health services accessibility; Health -- Social aspects; Political planning; Public health; Social medicine; Periodicals; 613
• DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2020.102400
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1353-8292

Abstract

Abstract: Using Demographic and Health Surveys from 48 low-income and middle-income countries (N = 432, 860), we investigated whether or not the presence of symptoms of acute respiratory infection (ARI) are contingent on environmental vulnerabilities such as the region, the level of ambient air pollution, community orphanhood status, and household poverty among young children under five. In addition, we also examined whether such an effect may be a consequence of socioeconomic development and/or lifestyle. Using multilevel logistic regression models, environmental vulnerability was found to be significantly associated with the likelihood of childhood ARI symptoms and this association seemed to be related to the level of ambient air pollution. Our findings suggest that important roles are played by both geographic region and ambient air pollution, and that these factors may disproportionately shape a child's risk of ARI symptoms in a global context. Highlights: The region-specific prevalence of ARI symptoms among pre-school children is higher in the Eastern Mediterranean and Latin America/Caribbean. Environmental vulnerability such as regions and air pollution, is associated with an increased odds of a child suffering from ARI symptoms. Specific components within region vary in their associations with ARI symptoms across level of ambient air pollution.