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Table 1 Health outcomes and demographic characteristics of the study participants (n = 3424)

From: Allergic rhinitis, rhinoconjunctivitis and hayfever symptoms among children are associated with frequency of truck traffic near residences: a cross sectional study

Variable

Total

Percentage

Rhinitis ever

1790

52.3

Current rhinitis

1372

40.1

Current rhinoconjunctivitis

769

22.5

Ever had hayfever

1285

37.5

Sex of child

Female

1790

52.3

Male

1634

47.7

Type of Area

Township

2301

67.2

Suburb

1117

32.6

Missing

6

0.18

Period lived in the area

Less than 6 months

253

7.4

6 to 12 months

216

6.3

1 to 2 years

346

10.1

3 years and longer

2609

76.2

Born in the areas of Tembisa and Kempton Park

Yes

1812

52.9

No

1609

47.0

Missing

3

0.1

Type of house

Brick

2938

85.8

Mud

45

1.3

Corrugated iron

184

5.5

Combination

126

3.7

Missing

126

3.7

Vigorous physical activity per week

Never or occasionally

984

28.7

Once or twice per week

1417

41.4

Three or more times a week

983

28.7

Missing

40

1.2

Hours watching television on average in a day

Less than 1 h

532

15.5

Hour but less than 3 h

835

24.4

2 h but less than 5 h

827

24.4

More than 5 h

1213

35.4

Missing

17

0.50

ETS exposure at home in the past 30 days

Yes

1452

42.4

No

1460

42.6

Missing

512

15.0

ETS exposure at school in the past 30 days

Yes

1177

34.4

No

1452

42.4

Missing

755

23.2

Residential cooking fuel type most frequently used

Electricity

2995

87.5

Gas

179

5.2

Paraffin

200

5.8

Open fires (wood, coal)

30

0.9

Missing

20

0.6

Residential heating fuel type most frequently used

Electricity

2041

59.6

Gas

426

12.4

Paraffin

631

18.4

Open fires (wood, coal)

270

7.9

Missing

56

1.64

Mode of transport to school

Walk

1728

50.5

Taxi\Bus

708

20.7

Motor car

683

20.0

Combination

201

5.9

Train

100

2.9

Missing

4

0.1

Frequency of trucks passing near homes on weekdays

Never

563

16.4

Seldom

1033

30.2

Frequently through the day

580

16.9

Almost every day

1212

35.4

Missing

36

1.1