Harmonization of Epidemiologic Research Methods to Address the Environmental and Social Determinants of Urban Slum Health Challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa

Adetoun Mustapha (), A. Kofi Amegah and Eric Stephen Coker
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Adetoun Mustapha: Nigeria Institute of Medical Research, 6 Edmund Crescent, Lagos 101245, Nigeria
A. Kofi Amegah: Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Allied Health Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast PMB TF0494, Ghana
Eric Stephen Coker: Department of Environmental & Public Health, College of Public Health & Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 18, 1-6

Abstract: Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has a significant proportion of populations living in urban slum conditions, where exposure to multiple environmental stressors and social inequalities is ubiquitous. This commentary synthesizes commonalities in recent environmental health studies from urban cities in East and West Africa, presented during a symposium sponsored by the Africa Chapter of the International Society of Environmental Epidemiology (ISEE) in August 2020. A key takeaway from this symposium is the need for harmonization of epidemiologic and exposure data collection in three domains tailored to the SSA context: (1) improvements in socioeconomic status (SES) measurement through harmonization in the conceptualization and operationalization of SES indicators; (2) improvements in air pollution exposure assessment in resource-constrained contexts by better integration, validation, and harmonization of exposure data of air pollution and mitigating factors; and (3) harmonization in the assessment of health outcomes and biomonitoring of contaminants. Focusing on these three domains would galvanize environmental epidemiologists in SSA around shared data collection instruments and shared data platforms and facilitate the pooling of data across the continent. Fostering this collaborative research will enable researchers and decision-makers to glean new insights and develop robust environmental health interventions and policies for SSA urban slums and for improved population health.

Keywords: urban slum; exposure assessment; research methods; socio-economic status; Sub-Saharan Africa; air pollution; health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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