Dietary Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) Consumption and Risk of Adverse Birth Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: There is suggestive epidemiological evidence that maternal dietary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) may increase the risk of adverse birth outcomes. We sought to summarize the available evidence on the effect of dietary PAH exposure on birth outcomes.

Methods: PubMed and Scopus databases were systematically searched from inception up to November 2022.

Fruits and vegetables intake improves birth outcomes of women with gestational diabetes mellitus and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

Background: Disorders of pregnancy such as hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) have been associated with adverse birth outcomes. However, the ameliorating role of maternal nutrition in the relationship between disorders of pregnancy and adverse birth outcomes has received very little attention. We investigated the relationship between HDP and GDM, and adverse birth outcomes in a Ghanaian population and evaluated the effect modifying role of fruits and vegetables consumption in the relationship.

Socio-demographic and neighbourhood factors influencing urban green space use and development at home: A population-based survey in Accra, Ghana.

In Sub-Saharan Africa and other developing regions, there has been very little systematic attempt to document the uses and perceived health benefits of urban green spaces in cities and the factors influencing usage. We therefore sought to establish the availability, accessibility and use of urban green spaces, and the perceived health benefits in an African population. We also ascertained the factors influencing use and development of green spaces at home.

Do dietary practices and household environmental quality mediate socio-economic inequalities in child undernutrition risk in West Africa?

Objective: We investigated the relationship between socio-economic status and child undernutrition in West Africa (WA), and further examined the mediating role of dietary practices (measured as minimum dietary diversity (MDD), minimum meal frequency (MMF) and minimum acceptable diet (MAD)) and household environmental quality (HEQ) in the observed relationship.

Design: Thirteen countries were included in the study. We leveraged the most recent Demographic and Health Surveys datasets ranging from 2010 to 2019.

Harmonization of Epidemiologic Research Methods to Address the Environmental and Social Determinants of Urban Slum Health Challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has a significant proportion of populations living in urban slum conditions, where exposure to multiple environmental stressors and social inequalities is ubiquitous. This commentary synthesizes commonalities in recent environmental health studies from urban cities in East and West Africa, presented during a symposium sponsored by the Africa Chapter of the International Society of Environmental Epidemiology (ISEE) in August 2020. A key takeaway from this symposium is the need for harmonization of epidemiologic and exposure data collection in three domains tailored to the SSA context: (1) improvements in socioeconomic status (SES) measurement through harmonization in the conceptualization and operationalization of SES indicators; (2) improvements in air pollution exposure assessment in resource-constrained contexts by better integration, validation, and harmonization of exposure data of air pollution and mitigating factors; and (3) harmonization in the assessment of health outcomes and biomonitoring of contaminants.

Limited Air Pollution Research on the African Continent: Time to Fill the Gap.

Air pollution is a major threat to human health and well-being, and improving air quality is necessary to achieve the sustainable development goals [...

Secular trends in low birth weight and child undernutrition in West Africa: evidence from complex nationwide surveys, 1985-2019.

Objective: We present prevalence estimates and secular trends of stunting, wasting, underweight, and anaemia among children under 5 years of age and low birth weight (LBW) over the period 1985-2019 in West Africa (WA).

Design: Analysis of Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) and World Bank data. DerSimonian-Laird random effect model with the Knapp-Hartung adjustment to the standard error was used to derive overall prevalence estimates.

Vitamin D intake modifies the association of household air pollution exposure with maternal disorders of pregnancy.

To date, only three studies have investigated the association of household air pollution (HAP) exposure with pregnancy disorders. The ameliorating role of diet and nutrition in the association has never been explored. We conducted a cross-sectional study among 799 mothers who had recently given singleton birth in the Cape Coast Metropolis, Ghana.

The Conundrum of Low COVID-19 Mortality Burden in sub-Saharan Africa: Myth or Reality?

The demographic age structure of sub-Saharan Africa contributes significantly to the low morbidity and mortality of COVID-19 compared to other regions in the world.

Particulate matter pollution at traffic hotspots of Accra, Ghana: levels, exposure experiences of street traders, and associated respiratory and cardiovascular symptoms.

Background: There are limited studies on the health effects of street trading in spite of common knowledge that individuals engaged in the trade are exposed to high levels of traffic-related air pollution per their mode of operation, and also the fact that the venture is a dominant occupation in cities of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and other developing regions.

Objective: We characterized particulate matter (PM) pollution levels at traffic hotspots of Accra, Ghana during the dry and wet seasons, and assessed exposure experiences of street traders.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 236 street traders operating along six selected traffic routes of Accra and a comparison group of 186 office workers.

A land use regression model using machine learning and locally developed low cost particulate matter sensors in Uganda.

The application of land use regression (LUR) modeling for estimating air pollution exposure has been used only rarely in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This is generally due to a lack of air quality monitoring networks in the region. Low cost air quality sensors developed locally in sub-Saharan Africa presents a sustainable operating mechanism that may help generate the air monitoring data needed for exposure estimation of air pollution with LUR models.

Cadmium exposure and risk of adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of cohort and cohort-based case-control studies.

Background: There are several inconsistencies in the epidemiological literature on the strength of the association between cadmium exposure and adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes, and the threshold dose of adverse effect.

Objectives: We therefore conducted a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis to evaluate the available evidence to influence clinical decision making and better tailor public health interventions.

Methods: PubMed and Scopus databases were searched up to January, 2019.

Improving Child Survival in Sub-Saharan Africa: Key Environmental and Nutritional Interventions.

Many countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), did not achieve the Millennium Development Goal 4 target of reducing under-five mortality by two-thirds between 1990 and 2015. A large proportion of under-five deaths in SSA and other developing regions have been attributed to undernutrition and poor household environmental conditions. Failure to address nutritional deficit and household environmental pollution in SSA will therefore likely result in many countries not meeting the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.

Short-term prenatal exposure to ambient air pollution and risk of preterm birth - A population-based cohort study in Finland.

Background: Previous studies have provided evidence that prenatal exposure to low-level air pollution increases the risk of preterm birth (PTB), but the findings of the effects of short-term exposure have been inconclusive. Moreover, there is little knowledge on potential synergistic effects of different combinations of air pollutants.

Objectives: To assess independent and joint effects of prenatal exposure to air pollutants during the week prior to the delivery on the risk of PTB.

Sunlight exposure, consumption of vitamin D-rich foods and vulvovaginal candidiasis in an African population: a prevalence case-control study.

Background/objectives: To date, only two studies have investigated the relationship between vitamin D (vitD) deficiency and candidiasis in spite of vitD's antimicrobial and immunomodulatory roles. We examined the relationship between sunlight exposure and consumption of vitD-rich foods, markers of vitD status, and vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) in an African population to add to the limited evidence and stimulate additional research.

Subjects/methods: Three hundred cases (females diagnosed as suffering from VVC) and three hundred controls (females diagnosed as suffering from any condition other than VVC) were selected from three health facilities in Cape Coast, Ghana.

Mapping 123 million neonatal, infant and child deaths between 2000 and 2017.

Since 2000, many countries have achieved considerable success in improving child survival, but localized progress remains unclear. To inform efforts towards United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3.2-to end preventable child deaths by 2030-we need consistently estimated data at the subnational level regarding child mortality rates and trends.

Synergistic effects of prenatal exposure to fine particulate matter (PM) and ozone (O) on the risk of preterm birth: A population-based cohort study.

Background: There is some evidence that prenatal exposure to low-level air pollution increases the risk of preterm birth (PTB), but little is known about synergistic effects of different pollutants.

Objectives: We assessed the independent and joint effects of prenatal exposure to air pollution during the entire duration of pregnancy.

Methods: The study population consisted of the 2568 members of the Espoo Cohort Study, born between 1984 and 1990, and living in the City of Espoo, Finland.

Association of biomass fuel use with reduced body weight of adult Ghanaian women.

The association of biomass fuel use with body weight has never been investigated. We therefore examined the effect of biomass fuel use on body weight of adult Ghanaian women. Data from the 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey, a nationally representative population-based survey was analysed for this study.