Table 1 Description of the study population: socio-demographic characteristics, helminth infection and treatment information, exposure to air pollution, and allergy related variables
From: Multiple overlapping risk factors for childhood wheeze among children in Benin
Variable | N/Median (IQR) | %/Range |
|---|---|---|
a. Socio-demographic characteristics | ||
Age (years) | 9.2 (7.2–11.8) | 6.0–14.9 |
Gender | ||
 Male | 482 | 53.8 |
 Female | 413 | 46.2 |
Wealth index | ||
 1st Quintile | 149 | 16.7 |
 2nd Quintile | 158 | 17.6 |
 3rd Quintile | 165 | 18.4 |
 4th Quintile | 207 | 23.1 |
 5th Quintile | 216 | 24.1 |
Household size (individuals) | 6 (5–7) | 2–20 |
Body mass index (kg/m2) | ||
 Normal (18–25) | 878 | 98.1 |
 Overweight (25–30) | 10 | 1.1 |
 Obesity (sup 30) | 7 | 0.8 |
b. Description of the study population: helminth infection and treatment information | ||
|---|---|---|
Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections | Â | Â |
Ascaris | ||
 No | 864 | 96.5 |
 Yes | 31 | 3.5 |
Hookworm | ||
 No | 878 | 98.1 |
 Yes | 17 | 1.9 |
Trichuris | ||
 No | 893 | 99.8 |
 Yes | 2 | 0.2 |
Any STH | ||
 No | 845 | 94.4 |
 Yes | 50 | 5.6 |
Intensity of infection with Ascaris—continuous (EPG) | 7968 (1680–34296)a | 12–56412 |
Intensity of infection with hookworm—continuous (EPG) | 84 (48–492) | 12–11100 |
Intensity of infection with Trichuris—continuous (EPG) | 10122 | 120–20124 |
Intensity of infection with Ascaris | ||
 Null (not infected) | 864 | 96.5 |
 Light (1–4,999 EPG) | 13 | 1.4 |
 Moderate (5,000–49,999 EPG) | 17 | 1.9 |
 Heavy (> 50,000 EPG) | 1 | 0.1 |
Intensity of infection with Hookworm | ||
 Null (not infected) | 878 | 98.1 |
 Light (1–1,999 EPG) | 15 | 1.7 |
 Moderate (1,000–9,999 EPG) | 1 | 0.1 |
 Heavy (> 10,000 EPG) | 1 | 0.1 |
Intensity of infection with Trichuris | ||
 Null (not infected) | 893 | 99.8 |
 Light (1–999 EPG) | 1 | 0.1 |
 Moderate (2,000–3,999 EPG) | 0 | 0 |
 Heavy (> 4,000 EPG) | 1 | 0.1 |
Number of MDA treatments—continuous | 2 (0–5) | 0–5 |
Number of MDA treatments (category) | ||
 0–1 treatment | 111 | 12.4 |
 2–3 treatments | 363 | 40.6 |
 4–5 treatments | 421 | 47.0 |
c. Description of the study population: exposure to air pollution | ||
|---|---|---|
Household air pollution | ||
 Exposure to cooking fuels | ||
  All fuels (n = 907) | ||
   LPG only | 12 | 1.3 |
   Wood only | 352 | 38.8 |
   Charcoal only | 251 | 27.7 |
   Mixed fuels | 292 | 32.2 |
  Biomass fuels (n = 895) | ||
   Wood only | 352 | 39.3 |
   Charcoal only | 251 | 28.1 |
   Mixed biomass fuels | 292 | 32.6 |
   Daily exposure time to any cooking fuel (in hours) | 0.8 (0.3–5.8) | 0.3–8 |
   Daily exposure time to wood burning (in hours) | 0.8 (0.5–1.5) | 0.3–8 |
   Daily exposure time to charcoal burning (in hours) | 0.8 (0.3–1.5) | 0.3–6.5 |
Type of cookstove | ||
 Enclosed only | 291 | 32.5 |
 Open only | 410 | 45.8 |
 Mixed: open or enclosed | 194 | 21.7 |
Cooking location | ||
 Exclusively indoor (with a roof and walls) | 142 | 15.9 |
 Mixed | 344 | 38.4 |
 Exclusively outdoor | 409 | 45.7 |
Material used for fire lighting | ||
 Kerosene | ||
  No | 670 | 74.9 |
  Yes | 225 | 25.1 |
 Palm cakes | ||
  No | 261 | 29.1 |
  Yes | 634 | 70.9 |
 Plastic bags | ||
  No | 851 | 95.1 |
 Yes | 44 | 4.6 |
Second hand smoking | ||
 No | 810 | 90.5 |
 Yes | 42 | 4.7 |
 Unknown/Missing | 43 | 4.8 |
Ambient air pollution | ||
 Distance from home to asphalt road | ||
  < 50 m | 97 | 10.8 |
  50–200 m | 87 | 9.7 |
  > 200 m | 711 | 79.4 |
 Distance from home to unpaved but busy road |  |  |
  < 50 m | 351 | 39.2 |
  50–200 m | 105 | 11.7 |
  > 200 m | 439 | 49.0 |
d. Description of the study population: allergy-related variables | ||
|---|---|---|
Variable | Frequency | % |
 Variables associated with allergies |  |  |
  Diet | ||
   Exclusively allergy-protective | 390 | 43.6 |
   Exclusively allergy-prone or mixed | 501 | 56.0 |
 Presence of animals (dogs, cats, rodents) | ||
  No | 390 | 43.6 |
  Yes | 505 | 56.4 |
 Foodstuff stored in room (cereals, tubers, nuts) | ||
  No | 442 | 49.4 |
  Yes | 453 | 50.6 |
 Volatiles/toxic substances stored in room (insecticides, oil, gas oil, rat poison…) | ||
  No | 523 | 58.4 |
  Yes | 372 | 41.6 |
 Housing material | ||
  Man-made | 600 | 67.0 |
  Natural | 295 | 33.0 |
 Bedding material | ||
  Man-made | 111 | 12.4 |
  Natural | 780 | 87.1 |
  Unknown/missing | 4 | 0.4 |