Exploring the Association between Ambient Temperature and Daily Hospital Admissions for Diarrhea in Mopani District, Limpopo Province, South Africa.

ABSTRACT: Diarrhea contributes significantly to global morbidity and mortality. There is evidence that diarrhea prevalence is associated with ambient temperature. This study aimed to determine if there was an association between ambient temperature and diarrhea at a rural site in South Africa. Daily diarrheal hospital admissions (2007 to 2016) at two large district hospitals in Mopani district, Limpopo province were compared to average daily temperature and apparent temperature (Tapp, 'real-feel' temperature that combined temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed). Linear regression and threshold regression, age-stratified to participants ≤5 years and >5 years old, considered changes in daily admissions by unit °C increase in Tapp. Daily ranges in ambient temperature and Tapp were 2-42 °C and -

SUBMITTER: Kunene Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10177752 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature