Waste, Services, and Child Health: Exposure to Informal Waste in Low-Income Communities in South Africa
1
Chair in Waste and Society, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A3279
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
In low-income communities, informal dumping and open burning expose children to hazardous waste through direct contact, environmental contamination, and disease vectors. This study examines the association between exposure to poorly managed waste and child health outcomes, including stunting, underweight, overweight, gastroenteritis, and respiratory symptoms.
METHODS:
The study uses data from 512 low-income households with children younger than 5 in the Western Cape. Data include socio-economic characteristics, anthropometric measurements, dietary diversity, and reported child illnesses. Coordinates of illegal waste heaps were mapped. Waste exposure was measured using two indicators: residence close to a waste heap and lack of access to municipal waste collection services. Logistic regression models were estimated with community fixed effects, while controlling for various household and child characteristics, including dietary diversity. A second round of data collection is currently being added, which will allow for an assessment of changes in reactive health outcomes, including respiratory symptoms and selected mental health indicators, following municipal and community-led cleaning initiatives.
RESULTS:
Children living within 150 m of a waste heap and without waste collection services were 2.2-2.5 times more likely to be stunted compared to unexposed children. No significant associations were found between waste exposure and underweight or overweight. Children living within 90 m of a waste heap were up to 2.9 times more likely to report respiratory symptoms in the past month. Associations between waste exposure and gastroenteritis were weaker and sensitive to model specification.
CONCLUSIONS:
Exposure to poorly managed waste in low-income communities is associated with increased risks of stunting and respiratory illness among young children, independent of nutritional intake and household socio-economic status. Ongoing and improved waste management interventions may reduce environmental health risks and provide measurable short-term improvements in reactive child health outcomes following community clean-up efforts.
In low-income communities, informal dumping and open burning expose children to hazardous waste through direct contact, environmental contamination, and disease vectors. This study examines the association between exposure to poorly managed waste and child health outcomes, including stunting, underweight, overweight, gastroenteritis, and respiratory symptoms.
METHODS:
The study uses data from 512 low-income households with children younger than 5 in the Western Cape. Data include socio-economic characteristics, anthropometric measurements, dietary diversity, and reported child illnesses. Coordinates of illegal waste heaps were mapped. Waste exposure was measured using two indicators: residence close to a waste heap and lack of access to municipal waste collection services. Logistic regression models were estimated with community fixed effects, while controlling for various household and child characteristics, including dietary diversity. A second round of data collection is currently being added, which will allow for an assessment of changes in reactive health outcomes, including respiratory symptoms and selected mental health indicators, following municipal and community-led cleaning initiatives.
RESULTS:
Children living within 150 m of a waste heap and without waste collection services were 2.2-2.5 times more likely to be stunted compared to unexposed children. No significant associations were found between waste exposure and underweight or overweight. Children living within 90 m of a waste heap were up to 2.9 times more likely to report respiratory symptoms in the past month. Associations between waste exposure and gastroenteritis were weaker and sensitive to model specification.
CONCLUSIONS:
Exposure to poorly managed waste in low-income communities is associated with increased risks of stunting and respiratory illness among young children, independent of nutritional intake and household socio-economic status. Ongoing and improved waste management interventions may reduce environmental health risks and provide measurable short-term improvements in reactive child health outcomes following community clean-up efforts.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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