Spatial modelling of the effect of air pollution and socioeconomic factors on childhood respiratory and nutritional conditions in sub-Saharan Africa: The SPDE approach

Keywords: Acute respiratory infection, air pollution, stunting, Bayesian model, socioeconomic factors, sub-Saharan Africa
Session Type: Virtual Paper Abstract
Day: Friday
Session Start / End Time: 2/25/2022 05:20 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada)) - 2/25/2022 06:40 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada))
Room: Virtual 30

Abstract

The burdens of respiratory infection and malnutrition are considerably high among children in sub-Saharan Africa. Acute respiratory infection accounts for 16% of all deaths among children aged under 5 years old; while, 29% of children are stunted due to malnutrition. While studies have focused on the effect of socioeconomic and climatic on childhood health outcomes in the sub-Saharan African region, there is limited knowledge on the potential effect of air pollution on these health outcomes. Likewise, there is little knowledge of the spatial risk patterns for respiratory infection and malnutrition across the region. In this study, we explore the effect of air quality and socioeconomic factors on acute respiratory infection and malnutrition among children aged under 5 years of age. We also assess the spatial risk pattern through Bayesian modelling with the Stochastic Partial Differential Equations (SPDE) approach.