Child Heat Impact-Climate Health Intervention

Durban, South Africa

In Durban, South Africa, the Mother and Child in the Environment (MACE) (University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN)) birth cohort continues assessment of over 300 children, focused on ambient pollution and respiratory outcomes since 2013. The transdisciplinary research team includes environmental epidemiologists, paediatric pulmonologists, environmental scientists and laboratory scientists. Children have had annual respiratory health assessments including infant lung function testing, with formal spirometry since five years of age. MACE, with funding from the South African National Research Foundation, will provide the research infrastructure for the Durban component of the proposed project. Our approaches in assessing small airways disease is done in collaboration with researchers from Gothenburg University. The participants from MACE are recruited from low-socioeconomic communities in Durban.