Examining the Association between Ambient Air Pollution and Adverse Birth Outcomes in India: Findings from National Family Health Survey-5 (2019-2021)

TAPAS BERA, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela
Jalandhar Pradhan, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela
Nihar Ranjan Rout, National Institute of Technology Rourkela

Low birth weight (LBW) and preterm birth (PTB) are primary factors contributing to morbidity and mortality among children aged under 5, resulting in a range of short- and long-term health consequences worldwide. Among the various of risk factors, ambient air pollution poses a significant environmental risk and is a key determinant of child health. We combined the monthly PM2.5 data (2013- 2021) obtained from the Atmospheric Composition Analysis Group at Washington University with the prevalence of LBW and PTB among under-5 children, as sampled from the NFHS-5, 2019-2021. We employed multivariable logistic regression models considering various child, mother, and household-level characteristics. The study comprises a total of 208,181 under -5 children. Out of these children, the LBW rate was 17.41%, and the rate of PTB was 12.42%. The in-utero exposure to the mean concentration of PM2.5 was 56.01 µg/m3. The odds of suffering from LBW showed an inconsistent shift when PM2.5 levels rose from the first octile to the last octile. While comparing the PTB, there was a 58% more likelihood of having PTB after accounting for all relevant factors. These expected findings highlight the urgent need for a thorough strategy to address India's current state of affairs.

Keywords: Children, Adolescents, and Youth, Geo-referenced/geo-coded data, Health and Morbidity, Population Policies

See extended abstract.