Exposure to solid biodegradable waste dumps and risk of acute respiratory infections, case of Buterere population in Bujumbura (2018-2020) : case-control study

Abstract

The polluted environment has deleterious effects on ecosystem health. Weather conditions (wind, heat), sometimes as a consequence of climate change, play a major role in the spread of viruses and bacteria in the air from polluted soil, which is responsible for Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI). The present study focuses on the assessment of the risk of contracting ARI in the area exposed to the unprotected landfill of Buterere (Bujumbura) by a case-control epidemiological study. The association parameters analyzed are Odds Ratio (OR), Risk Difference (RD) followed by an MH statistical test. The study included 344,935 people, 117,812 in the exposed area and 227,123 in the unexposed area. Overall, there was an excess risk of contracting ARI in Buterere (OR > 1; OR=3.19; DR=19,6%: the further away from the landfill area, the less likely one was to contract the disease. Those under 5 years of age are more affected compared to those over 5 years of age. Further research on the types of pollutants and their contribution remains a necessity.