Community Perceptions of Air Pollution and Related Health Risks in Nairobi Slums

Abstract

Air pollution is among the leading global risks for mortality and responsible for increasing risk for chronic diseases. Community perceptions on exposure are critical in determining people’s response and acceptance of related policies. Therefore, understanding people’ perception is critical in informing the design of appropriate intervention measures. The aim of this paper was to establish levels and associations between perceived pollution and health risk perception among slum residents. A cross-sectional study of 5,317 individuals aged 35+ years was conducted in two slums of Nairobi. Association of perceived score and individual characteristics was assessed using linear regression. Spatial variation in the perceived levels was determined through hot spot analysis using ArcGIS. The average perceived air pollution level was higher among residents in Viwandani compared to those in Korogocho. Perceived air pollution level was positively associated with perceived health risks. The majority of respondents were exposed to air pollution in their place of work with 66% exposed to at least two sources of air pollution. Less than 20% of the respondents in both areas mentioned sources related to indoor pollution. The perceived air pollution level and related health risks in the study community were lowamong the residents indicating the need for promoting awareness on air pollution sources and related health risks.

A Nairobi experiment in using low cost air quality monitors

“…Participation by residents in the monitoring is an important way to communicate the science of air pollution to citizens (Ngo et al 2015a). Studies show that Nairobi residents from poor neighbourhoods appear to have a wide variety of often-inaccurate perceptions about air pollution, in part because they have very little information about it (Egondi et al, 2013;Muindi et al, 2014;Ngo et al, 2017Ngo et al, , 2015. Nevertheless, a 2015 telephone survey of a representative sample of Nairobi residents, revealed that a majority of Nairobi's adult citizens perceive the air in the city as bad or very bad (69%) and among those who consider the air bad, 93% believed it had an impact on their health.…”

Adolescents Perception on Environmental Change and Health Risk in Two Divisions of Bangladesh

“…People perceived that health problems usually increase during summer, monsoon and winter season [13] [23] [24]. Other studies reported different categories of health outcomes that are most likely to be affected by environmental change: temperature related health problems; health effects from extreme weather events; air-water related health effects and food and vector borne diseases [25]- [28]. Akerlof et al, [29] found in USA, Canada and Malta that most people's perceptions on climate change and health risk were consistent with evidence regarding vulnerability of those countries to environmental change.…”

Characterization of Size-Fractionated Particulate Matter and Deposition Fractions in Human Respiratory System in a Typical African City: Nairobi, Kenya

“…Of interest, Zn has been reported as toxic in inhalable particulate form as zinc oxide (Cooper, 2008). The slum dwellers in Nairobi city and Accra burn old car tires to extract wires and also use the fires for cooking (Obiri-Danso et al, 2008;Egondi et al, 2013). The slum dwellers are thus exposed to Zn from the tires (Councell et al, 2004) and with high levels of PM from burning tires, the risk of toxicity increases.…”

“…Nairobi has a population of about 4 million people (KODP, 2012) in an area of approximately 684 km 2 and this population is projected to grow to about 12 million by 2030 (MoNMD, 2008). The fast growing population has given rise to increased controlled and uncontrolled infrastructural development, increased vehicular traffic activities and poor social services delivery (van Vliet and Kinney, 2007;Karanja and Makau, 2012;Egondi et al, 2013). The majority of the industries within the Nairobi metropolitan area are located to the east and south east of the city centre.…”