We evaluated associations between air pollution (nitrogen dioxide [NO2] and sulfur dioxide [SO2]) and health in children aged 0-3 years in Indonesia. We included 4931 Indonesian children born between 2009 and 2011. We assigned participants provincial-levels of NO2 and SO2 and examined associations with low birth weight, infant death, neonatal death, and acute respiratory infection (ARI). We estimated odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) using a generalized estimating equations logistic regression model. NO2 exposure increased the risk for ARI. An interquartile range increase in mean NO2 exposure increased the risk for ARI by 18% (OR 1.18, 95% CI: 1.08-1.28), and was supported by quartile exposure category. SO2 was not associated with the examined child health outcomes. NO2 exposure increased the risk for respiratory infections in early childhood in Indonesia. AbbreviationsARIacute respiratory infectionCIconfidence intervalGDRBGross Domestic Regional BrutoGEEgeneralized estimating equationsIDHSIndonesian Demographic Health SurveyIQRinterquartile rangeLBWlow birth weightNO2nitrogen dioxideORodds ratioSO2sulfur dioxide.
Keywords: Acute respiratory infection; infant death; low birth weight (LBW); neonatal death; nitrogen dioxide; sulfur dioxide.