Association between environmental exposure to pesticides and prevalence of asthma symptoms in rural children and adolescents living in agricultural settings in the Western Cape

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dc.contributor.advisorDalvie, Mohamed Aqiel
dc.contributor.advisorToyib, Olaniyan
dc.contributor.advisorJeebhay, Mohamed
dc.contributor.authorTshilengu, Eunice Muya
dc.date.accessioned2025-04-10T09:52:55Z
dc.date.available2025-04-10T09:52:55Z
dc.date.issued2024
dc.date.updated2025-04-09T12:46:02Z
dc.description.abstractBackground: There is conflicting evidence on the association between pesticide exposure and child asthma related outcomes in agricultural settings and limited data in developing country settings. Objectives: This study investigated the association between children's exposure to pesticides and asthma related outcomes in rural agricultural areas in Western Cape South Africa. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 700 children from three intensive agricultural areas in the rural Western Cape in June-September 2017. Guardian reported asthma outcomes and demographic information using an abbreviated version of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire and self-reported pesticide exposures of children was obtained. Results: The median age of children was 11 years. The prevalence of more than two reported asthma symptoms (current wheeze, wheeze attack, wheeze disturbing sleep, wheeze limiting speech and wheeze during exercise) was 8.5% across the sample. There were no statistically significant positive associations found between any of the three asthma related outcomes (including asthma symptoms score ≥ 2, parental reported asthma and current wheeze) and pesticide exposure variables. These included general pesticide exposure, farm activities, leisure activities and household pesticide exposure when adjusting for relevant confounders using multiple logistic regression analysis. Conclusion: This cross-sectional study did not find evidence of an association between self reported asthma related outcomes and pesticide exposure among rural children of the Western Cape. Longitudinal studies investigating the association using robust exposure and outcome measures are recommended.
dc.identifier.apacitationTshilengu, E. M. (2024). <i>Association between environmental exposure to pesticides and prevalence of asthma symptoms in rural children and adolescents living in agricultural settings in the Western Cape</i>. (). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Public Health and Family Medicine. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41381en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationTshilengu, Eunice Muya. <i>"Association between environmental exposure to pesticides and prevalence of asthma symptoms in rural children and adolescents living in agricultural settings in the Western Cape."</i> ., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Public Health and Family Medicine, 2024. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41381en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationTshilengu, E.M. 2024. Association between environmental exposure to pesticides and prevalence of asthma symptoms in rural children and adolescents living in agricultural settings in the Western Cape. . University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Public Health and Family Medicine. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41381en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Tshilengu, Eunice Muya AB - Background: There is conflicting evidence on the association between pesticide exposure and child asthma related outcomes in agricultural settings and limited data in developing country settings. Objectives: This study investigated the association between children's exposure to pesticides and asthma related outcomes in rural agricultural areas in Western Cape South Africa. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 700 children from three intensive agricultural areas in the rural Western Cape in June-September 2017. Guardian reported asthma outcomes and demographic information using an abbreviated version of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire and self-reported pesticide exposures of children was obtained. Results: The median age of children was 11 years. The prevalence of more than two reported asthma symptoms (current wheeze, wheeze attack, wheeze disturbing sleep, wheeze limiting speech and wheeze during exercise) was 8.5% across the sample. There were no statistically significant positive associations found between any of the three asthma related outcomes (including asthma symptoms score ≥ 2, parental reported asthma and current wheeze) and pesticide exposure variables. These included general pesticide exposure, farm activities, leisure activities and household pesticide exposure when adjusting for relevant confounders using multiple logistic regression analysis. Conclusion: This cross-sectional study did not find evidence of an association between self reported asthma related outcomes and pesticide exposure among rural children of the Western Cape. Longitudinal studies investigating the association using robust exposure and outcome measures are recommended. DA - 2024 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town KW - family medicine LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2024 T1 - Association between environmental exposure to pesticides and prevalence of asthma symptoms in rural children and adolescents living in agricultural settings in the Western Cape TI - Association between environmental exposure to pesticides and prevalence of asthma symptoms in rural children and adolescents living in agricultural settings in the Western Cape UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41381 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/41381
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationTshilengu EM. Association between environmental exposure to pesticides and prevalence of asthma symptoms in rural children and adolescents living in agricultural settings in the Western Cape. []. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Public Health and Family Medicine, 2024 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41381en_ZA
dc.language.isoen
dc.language.rfc3066eng
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Public Health and Family Medicine
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Health Sciences
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subjectfamily medicine
dc.titleAssociation between environmental exposure to pesticides and prevalence of asthma symptoms in rural children and adolescents living in agricultural settings in the Western Cape
dc.typeThesis / Dissertation
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationlevelMPH
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