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Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública

2009, Number 2

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salud publica mex 2009; 51 (2)

Perception of health risks due to air pollution in adolescents in Mexico City

Catalán-Vázquez M, Riojas-Rodríguez H, Jarillo-Soto EC, Delgadillo-Gutiérrez HJ

Language: Spanish
References: 33
Page: 148-156
PDF size: 155.10 Kb.


ABSTRACT

Objective. Analyze the relations established between air pollution and health-disease-death in a sample of students in Mexico City. Material and methods. Survey of 1274 students from 14 secondary schools in five areas in Mexico City was conducted between March and April of 2003. We used a multi-stage sampling, based in a basic geostatistical areas (AGEB). Results. A total of 84.4% believed that Mexico City has a high, or very high air pollution; that valuation decreases as it approaches the most immediate place in which the students live. The health risks range from effects on respiratory health, 66.9%, to other effects on daily life, 2.2%. The predictors that air pollution is perceived as serious/very serious are: 1) that they associate it with the possibility of causing death (OR= 1.35, 95% CI=1.02-1.77), and 2) that they attend schools located in the La Merced zone, (OR= 2.23, 95% CI= 1.56-3.21). Conclusions. Determinants of perception, such as gender, zone where the school is located and the differences in air quality perceived in the city/area/schools, suggest that focalizing components must be involved in environmental policies, in order to make environmental programs more effective at the local level.


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