International Journal of Epidemiology 2003;32:847-853
© International Epidemiological Association 2003
Respiratory |
Indoor air pollution from biomass combustion and acute respiratory illness in preschool age children in Zimbabwe
Population and Health Studies, East-West Center, 1601 East-West Road, Honolulu, HI 96848–1601, USA. E-mail: MishraV{at}EastWestCenter.Org
Background Reliance on biomass for cooking and heating exposes many women and young children in developing countries to high levels of air pollution indoors. This study investigated the association between household use of biomass fuels for cooking and acute respiratory infections (ARI) in preschool age children (<5 years) in Zimbabwe.
Methods Analysis is based on 3559 children age 0–59 months included in the 1999 Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey (ZDHS). Children who suffered from cough accompanied by short, rapid breathing during the 2 weeks preceding the survey were defined as having suffered from ARI. Logistic regression was used to estimate the odds of suffering from ARI among children from households using biomass fuels (wood, dung, or straw) relative to children from households using cleaner fuels (liquid petroleum gas [LPG]/natural gas, or electricity), after controlling for potentially confounding factors.
Results About two-thirds (66%) of children lived in households using biomass fuels and 16% suffered from ARI during the 2 weeks preceding the survey interview. After adjusting for child’s age, sex, birth order, nutritional status, mother’s age at childbirth, education, religion, household living standard, and region of residence, children in households using wood, dung, or straw for cooking were more than twice as likely to have suffered from ARI as children from households using LPG/natural gas or electricity (OR = 2.20; 95% CI: 1.16, 4.19).
Conclusions Household use of high pollution biomass fuels is associated with ARI in children in Zimbabwe. The relationship needs to be further investigated using more direct measures of smoke exposure and clinical measures of ARI.
Keywords Indoor air pollution, biomass, smoke, respiratory tract infections, child, Zimbabwe
Accepted 14 May 2003
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