Investigating the Association between Wood and Charcoal Domestic Cooking, Respiratory Symptoms and Acute Respiratory Infections among Children Aged Under 5 Years in Uganda: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the 2016 Demographic and Health Survey

Katherine E. Woolley, Tusubira Bagambe, Ajit Singh, William R. Avis, Telesphore Kabera, Abel Weldetinsae, Shelton T. Mariga, Bruce Kirenga, Francis D. Pope, G. Neil Thomas and Suzanne E. Bartington
Additional contact information
Katherine E. Woolley: Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
Tusubira Bagambe: Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
Ajit Singh: School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
William R. Avis: International Development Department, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
Telesphore Kabera: College of Science and Technology, University of Rwanda, Avenue de l’Armee P.O. Box 3900, Rwanda
Abel Weldetinsae: Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 1242, Ethiopia
Shelton T. Mariga: Makerere University Lung Institute, College of Health Sciences, Mulago Hospital, Kampala P.O. Box 7749, Uganda
Bruce Kirenga: Makerere University Lung Institute, College of Health Sciences, Mulago Hospital, Kampala P.O. Box 7749, Uganda
Francis D. Pope: School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
G. Neil Thomas: Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
Suzanne E. Bartington: Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 11, 1-14

Abstract: Background : Household air pollution associated with biomass (wood, dung, charcoal, and crop residue) burning for cooking is estimated to contribute to approximately 4 million deaths each year worldwide, with the greatest burden seen in low and middle-income countries. We investigated the relationship between solid fuel type and respiratory symptoms in Uganda, where 96% of households use biomass as the primary domestic fuel. Materials and Methods : Cross-sectional study of 15,405 pre-school aged children living in charcoal or wood-burning households in Uganda, using data from the 2016 Demographic and Health Survey. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify the associations between occurrence of a cough, shortness of breath, fever, acute respiratory infection (ARI) and severe ARI with cooking fuel type (wood, charcoal); with additional sub-analyses by contextual status (urban, rural). Results : After adjustment for household and individual level confounding factors, wood fuel use was associated with increased risk of shortness of breath (AOR: 1.33 [1.10–1.60]), fever (AOR: 1.26 [1.08–1.48]), cough (AOR: 1.15 [1.00–1.33]), ARI (AOR: 1.36 [1.11–1.66] and severe ARI (AOR: 1.41 [1.09–1.85]), compared to charcoal fuel. In urban areas, Shortness of breath (AOR: 1.84 [1.20–2.83]), ARI (AOR: 1.77 [1.10–2.79]) and in rural areas ARI (AOR: 1.23 [1.03–1.47]) and risk of fever (AOR: 1.23 [1.03–1.47]) were associated with wood fuel usage. Conclusions : Risk of respiratory symptoms was higher among children living in wood compared to charcoal fuel-burning households, with policy implications for mitigation of associated harmful health impacts.

Keywords: acute respiratory infection; biomass fuel; household air pollution; respiratory symptoms; Uganda (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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