Environmental exposures associated with early childhood recurrent wheezing in the mother and child in the environment birth cohort: a time-to-event study.

Background: Antenatal factors and environmental exposures contribute to recurrent wheezing in early childhood.

Aim: To identify antenatal and environmental factors associated with recurrent wheezing in children from birth to 48 months in the mother and child in the environment cohort, using time-to-event analysis.

Method: Maternal interviews were administered during pregnancy and postnatally and children were followed up from birth to 48 months (May 2013-October 2019).

Impact of ambient air pollution exposure during pregnancy on adverse birth outcomes: generalized structural equation modeling approach.

Background: Air pollution and several prenatal factors, such as socio-demographic, behavioural, physical activity and clinical factors influence adverse birth outcomes. The study aimed to investigate the impact of ambient air pollution exposure during pregnancy adjusting prenatal risk factors on adverse birth outcomes among pregnant women in MACE birth cohort.

Methods: Data for the study was obtained from the Mother and Child in the Environment (MACE) birth cohort study in Durban, South Africa from 2013 to 2017.

Effect of short-term exposure to ambient nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter on repeated lung function measures in infancy: A South African birth cohort.

Background: The developing lung is highly susceptible to environmental toxicants, with both short- and long-term exposure to ambient air pollutants linked to early childhood effects. This study assessed the short-term exposure effects of nitrogen dioxide (NO) and particulate matter (PM) on lung function in infants aged 6 weeks, 6, 12 and 24 months, the early developmental phase of child growth.

Methods: Lung function was determined by multiple breath washout and tidal breathing measurement in non-sedated infants.

Maternal exposure to indoor PM and associated adverse birth outcomes in low socio-economic households, Durban, South Africa.

The association between in utero exposure to indoor PM and birth outcomes is not conclusive. We assessed the association between in utero exposure to indoor PM , birth weight, gestational age, low birth weight, and/or preterm delivery. Homes of 800 pregnant women were assessed using a structured walkthrough questionnaire.

Maternal demographic and antenatal factors, low birth weight and preterm birth: findings from the mother and child in the environment (MACE) birth cohort, Durban, South Africa.

Background: Low birthweight (LBW) and preterm birth (PB) remain the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in neonates worldwide. The aim of this study was to identify maternal demographic and antenatal factors associated with PB and LBW among low socio-economic communities.

Methods: Pregnant women (n = 1099) were recruited in the first trimester into the Mother and Child in the Environment (MACE) birth cohort in Durban, South Africa.