Household Air Pollution from Biomass Fuel for Cooking and Adverse Fetal Growth Outcomes in Rural Sri Lanka

Alicia Vakalopoulos, Shyamali C. Dharmage, Samath Dharmaratne, Pasan Jayasinghe, Olivia Lall, Isabella Ambrose, Rohan Weerasooriya, Dinh S. Bui, Duminda Yasaratne, Jane Heyworth and Gayan Bowatte
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Alicia Vakalopoulos: Allergy and Lung Health Unit, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Carlton, VIC 3053, Australia
Shyamali C. Dharmage: Allergy and Lung Health Unit, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Carlton, VIC 3053, Australia
Samath Dharmaratne: Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya 20400, Sri Lanka
Pasan Jayasinghe: Department of Health Services, Central Province, Kandy 20000, Sri Lanka
Olivia Lall: Allergy and Lung Health Unit, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Carlton, VIC 3053, Australia
Isabella Ambrose: Allergy and Lung Health Unit, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Carlton, VIC 3053, Australia
Rohan Weerasooriya: National Institute of Fundamental Studies, Hantana Road, Kandy 20000, Sri Lanka
Dinh S. Bui: Allergy and Lung Health Unit, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Carlton, VIC 3053, Australia
Duminda Yasaratne: Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya 20400, Sri Lanka
Jane Heyworth: School of Population and Public Health, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia
Gayan Bowatte: Allergy and Lung Health Unit, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Carlton, VIC 3053, Australia

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 4, 1-11

Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of biomass fuel for cooking on adverse fetal growth outcomes in Sri Lanka. A cross-sectional study of mothers recruited at maternity clinics in rural communities in Sri Lanka’s Central Province was undertaken. Data pertaining to household air pollution and fetal growth parameters were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Logistic regression models, adjusted for potential confounders, were used to evaluate the impact of biomass fuel for cooking on low birth weight (LBW) and small for gestational age (SGA) parameters. Findings showed that exposure to biomass cooking fuels during pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of LBW adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 2.74 (95% CI 1.08–6.96) and SGA (aOR: 1.87, 95% CI 1.03–3.41) compared with the use of clean energy. The risk of LBW was highest for traditional biomass stoves compared to improved biomass stoves (aOR: 3.23, 95% 1.17–8.89) and biomass use in kitchens without a chimney compared to kitchens with a chimney (aOR: 4.63, 95% 1.54–13.93). Similar trends were observed for SGA.

Keywords: household air pollution; indoor air pollution; biomass; pregnancy; Sri Lanka; LBW; SGA (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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