Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41168782›Full record

ArticlePopulation health metrics2025

Household crowding and mortality before and during the COVID-19 pandemic among adults: Findings from longitudinal population surveillance data in rural and peri-urban settings in Limpopo, South Africa.

Kagiso Peace Seakamela, Jean Juste Harrisson Bashingwa, Joseph Tlouyamma, Cairo Bruce Ntimana, Modupi Peter Mphekgwana, Reneilwe Given Mashaba, Katlego Mothapo, Chodziwadziwa Whiteson Kabudula, Eric Maimela

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Article in Population health metrics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

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No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Kagiso Peace SeakamelaDIMAMO Population Health Research Centre, University of Limpopo, Sovenga 0727, Polokwane, 0700, South Africa. peacekagiso4@gmail.com.ORCID 0000-0002-8180-0506
Jean Juste Harrisson BashingwaMRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt), Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Joseph TlouyammaDepartment of Computer Science, University of Limpopo, Sovenga 0727, Polokwane, 0700, South Africa.
Cairo Bruce NtimanaDIMAMO Population Health Research Centre, University of Limpopo, Sovenga 0727, Polokwane, 0700, South Africa.
Modupi Peter MphekgwanaResearch Administration and Development, University of Limpopo, Sovenga 0727, Polokwane, 0700, South Africa.
Reneilwe Given MashabaDIMAMO Population Health Research Centre, University of Limpopo, Sovenga 0727, Polokwane, 0700, South Africa.
Katlego MothapoDIMAMO Population Health Research Centre, University of Limpopo, Sovenga 0727, Polokwane, 0700, South Africa.
Chodziwadziwa Whiteson KabudulaMRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt), Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Eric MaimelaDIMAMO Population Health Research Centre, University of Limpopo, Sovenga 0727, Polokwane, 0700, South Africa.

Funding

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation grant Investments INV-030309Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation INV-050361South African Population Research Infrastructure Network, South Africa Alberts MRC M518South African Population Research Infrastructure Network, South Africa UL
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundHousehold overcrowding is a public health concern linked to increased morbidity and mortality. There is limited data available on the effects of COVID-19 on age-specific mortality in the context of household crowding in rural and peri-urban settings in Africa. Here we assess age-specific excess mortality in densely inhabited households before and during COVID-19.

methodsWe used data collected three times annually between 2019 and 2021 in the health and demographic surveillance project in DIMAMO, South Africa. Data inaccuracies or inconsistencies were identified and corrected using data validation rules or algorithms implemented at both application and database levels. The number of persons-per-room was used to determine the degree of crowding or household crowding index (HCI). HCI tertiles were categorized as low, medium, and high density.

resultsThroughout the study, people aged 70 years and above had the highest mortality rates compared to other age groups (40-54 and 55-69), with the highest mortality rates observed in overcrowded households (highest crowding index). MGH was observed as a risk factor for mortality during COVID-19. Individuals aged 70 years and older had the highest hazard ratios before and during COVID-19, where the risk increased during COVID-19 for densely populated households.

conclusionOvercrowding at the household level was associated with increased mortality during COVID-19 for individuals aged 70 years and older. Public health interventions in the case of future pandemics should consider how to address this risk factor.

Indexed as

COVID-19CrowdingFamily CharacteristicsMortalityAdolescentAdultAgedFemaleHumansLongitudinal StudiesMaleMiddle AgedPandemicsPopulation SurveillanceRural PopulationSARS-CoV-2AfricaAgeCOVID-19GenderHousehold crowdingMortality rates

Identifiers

PMID41168782
PMCPMC12573891

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LicenceCC BY
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.