IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v15y2018i2p248-d129868.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Women’s Ideas about the Health Effects of Household Air Pollution, Developed through Focus Group Discussions and Artwork in Southern Nepal

Author

Listed:
  • Delan Devakumar

    (Institute for Global Health, University College London, 30 Guilford St, London WC1N 1EH, UK)

  • Zeshan Qureshi

    (Institute for Global Health, University College London, 30 Guilford St, London WC1N 1EH, UK)

  • Jenevieve Mannell

    (Institute for Global Health, University College London, 30 Guilford St, London WC1N 1EH, UK)

  • Manju Baruwal

    (Mother and Infant Research Activities, Kathmandu 44600, Nepal)

  • Neha Sharma

    (Mother and Infant Research Activities, Kathmandu 44600, Nepal)

  • Eva Rehfuess

    (Institute of Medical Information Processing, Biometry and Epidemiology, Pettenkofer School of Public Health, LMU Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany)

  • Naomi M. Saville

    (Institute for Global Health, University College London, 30 Guilford St, London WC1N 1EH, UK)

  • Dharma S. Manandhar

    (Mother and Infant Research Activities, Kathmandu 44600, Nepal)

  • David Osrin

    (Institute for Global Health, University College London, 30 Guilford St, London WC1N 1EH, UK)

Abstract

Household air pollution is a major cause of ill health, but few solutions have been effective to date. While many quantitative studies have been conducted, few have explored the lived experiences and perceptions of women who do the cooking, and as a result are those most exposed to household air pollution. In this study, we worked with groups of home cooks, and sought to use art as a means of engaging them in discussions of how household air pollution from cooking affects their lives. In the Terai district of southern Nepal, we held four focus groups that included 26 local women from urban and peri-urban areas, as well as six local artists. The women then met approximately weekly over four months, and produced images related to air pollution. Transcripts from the focus groups were reviewed independently by two authors, who initially categorised data deductively to pre-defined nodes, and subsequently inductively reviewed emergent themes. Women identified a number of health effects from air pollution. The main physical effects related to the eye and the respiratory system, and women and young children were seen as most vulnerable. The psychosocial effects of air pollution included reduced food intake by women and lethargy. Suggested solutions included modifications to the cooking process, changing the location of stoves, and increasing ventilation. The main barriers were financial. The lived experiences of women in southern Nepal around the problem of air pollution offers a more nuanced and context-specific understanding of the perceptions and challenges of addressing air pollution, which can be used to inform future interventions.

Suggested Citation

  • Delan Devakumar & Zeshan Qureshi & Jenevieve Mannell & Manju Baruwal & Neha Sharma & Eva Rehfuess & Naomi M. Saville & Dharma S. Manandhar & David Osrin, 2018. "Women’s Ideas about the Health Effects of Household Air Pollution, Developed through Focus Group Discussions and Artwork in Southern Nepal," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-13, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:2:p:248-:d:129868
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/15/2/248/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/15/2/248/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Evelyn L. Rhodes & Robert Dreibelbis & Elizabeth Klasen & Neha Naithani & Joyce Baliddawa & Diana Menya & Subarna Khatry & Stephanie Levy & James M. Tielsch & J. Jaime Miranda & Caitlin Kennedy & Will, 2014. "Behavioral Attitudes and Preferences in Cooking Practices with Traditional Open-Fire Stoves in Peru, Nepal, and Kenya: Implications for Improved Cookstove Interventions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-17, October.
    2. Sesan, Temilade, 2012. "Navigating the limitations of energy poverty: Lessons from the promotion of improved cooking technologies in Kenya," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 202-210.
    3. Chen Chen & Scott Zeger & Patrick Breysse & Joanne Katz & William Checkley & Frank C Curriero & James M Tielsch, 2016. "Estimating Indoor PM2.5 and CO Concentrations in Households in Southern Nepal: The Nepal Cookstove Intervention Trials," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(7), pages 1-17, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Mulugeta Tamire & Adamu Addissie & Susann Skovbjerg & Rune Andersson & Mona Lärstad, 2018. "Socio-Cultural Reasons and Community Perceptions Regarding Indoor Cooking Using Biomass Fuel and Traditional Stoves in Rural Ethiopia: A Qualitative Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-15, September.
    2. Nikola Zaric & Velibor Spalevic & Nikola Bulatovic & Nikola Pavlicevic & Branislav Dudic, 2021. "Measurement of Air Pollution Parameters in Montenegro Using the Ecomar System," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-21, June.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Stanistreet Debbi & Puzzolo Elisa & Bruce Nigel & Pope Dan & Rehfuess Eva, 2014. "Factors Influencing Household Uptake of Improved Solid Fuel Stoves in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Qualitative Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-23, August.
    2. Marian Leimbach & Niklas Roming & Gregor Schwerhoff & Anselm Schultes, 2016. "Development perspectives of Sub-Saharan Africa under climate policies," EcoMod2016 9336, EcoMod.
    3. Malla, Sunil & Timilsina, Govinda R, 2014. "Household cooking fuel choice and adoption of improved cookstoves in developing countries : a review," Policy Research Working Paper Series 6903, The World Bank.
    4. Temilade Sesan & Willie Siyanbola, 2021. "“These are the realities”: insights from facilitating researcher-policymaker engagement in Nigeria’s household energy sector," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 8(1), pages 1-11, December.
    5. Jamie Roberman & Theophilus I. Emeto & Oyelola A. Adegboye, 2021. "Adverse Birth Outcomes Due to Exposure to Household Air Pollution from Unclean Cooking Fuel among Women of Reproductive Age in Nigeria," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-15, January.
    6. Cieslik, Katarzyna, 2016. "Moral Economy Meets Social Enterprise Community-Based Green Energy Project in Rural Burundi," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 12-26.
    7. Jewitt, Sarah & Smallman-Raynor, Matthew & K C, Binaya & Robinson, Benjamin & Adhikari, Puspanjali & Evans, Catrin & Karmacharya, Biraj Man & Bolton, Charlotte E. & Hall, Ian P., 2022. "Domesticating cleaner cookstoves for improved respiratory health: Using approaches from the sanitation sector to explore the adoption and sustained use of improved cooking technologies in Nepal," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 308(C).
    8. Ashraful Alam & Nanda Tawale & Archana Patel & Michael J. Dibley & Sunil Jadhao & Camille Raynes-Greenow, 2016. "Household Air Pollution Intervention Implications: Findings from Qualitative Studies and a Field Trial of Clean Cookstoves in Two Rural Villages in India," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-14, September.
    9. Lindgren, Samantha, 2024. "Sociocultural determinants of electric cooking in rural Namibia: Recommendations for youth and educational approaches to implementation strategy and policy," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 187(C).
    10. Li, Kang & Lloyd, Bob & Liang, Xiao-Jie & Wei, Yi-Ming, 2014. "Energy poor or fuel poor: What are the differences?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 476-481.
    11. Lin, Boqiang & Wang, Yao, 2020. "Does energy poverty really exist in China? From the perspective of residential electricity consumption," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    12. LaFave, Daniel & Beyene, Abebe Damte & Bluffstone, Randall & Dissanayake, Sahan T.M. & Gebreegziabher, Zenebe & Mekonnen, Alemu & Toman, Michael, 2021. "Impacts of improved biomass cookstoves on child and adult health: Experimental evidence from rural Ethiopia," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 140(C).
    13. Dalla Longa, Francesco & van der Zwaan, Bob, 2017. "Do Kenya’s climate change mitigation ambitions necessitate large-scale renewable energy deployment and dedicated low-carbon energy policy?," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 1559-1568.
    14. Purwanto, Widodo Wahyu & Afifah, Nok, 2016. "Assessing the impact of techno socioeconomic factors on sustainability indicators of microhydro power projects in Indonesia: A comparative study," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 312-322.
    15. Jacqueline Hollada & Kendra N. Williams & Catherine H. Miele & David Danz & Steven A. Harvey & William Checkley, 2017. "Perceptions of Improved Biomass and Liquefied Petroleum Gas Stoves in Puno, Peru: Implications for Promoting Sustained and Exclusive Adoption of Clean Cooking Technologies," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-14, February.
    16. Sehjpal, Ritika & Ramji, Aditya & Soni, Anmol & Kumar, Atul, 2014. "Going beyond incomes: Dimensions of cooking energy transitions in rural India," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 470-477.
    17. Agurto Adrianzén, Marcos, 2013. "Improved cooking stoves and firewood consumption: Quasi-experimental evidence from the Northern Peruvian Andes," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 89(C), pages 135-143.
    18. Jennifer D. Loo & Lirije Hyseni & Rosebel Ouda & Selline Koske & Ronald Nyagol & Ibrahim Sadumah & Michelle Bashin & Mike Sage & Nigel Bruce & Tamara Pilishvili & Debbi Stanistreet, 2016. "User Perspectives of Characteristics of Improved Cookstoves from a Field Evaluation in Western Kenya," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-14, January.
    19. Sagar Adhikari & Parth Sarathi Mahapatra & Chiranjibi Prasad Pokheral & Siva Praveen Puppala, 2020. "Cookstove Smoke Impact on Ambient Air Quality and Probable Consequences for Human Health in Rural Locations of Southern Nepal," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-21, January.
    20. Catherine A. Campbell & Suzanne E. Bartington & Katherine E. Woolley & Francis D. Pope & Graham Neil Thomas & Ajit Singh & William R. Avis & Patrick R. Tumwizere & Clement Uwanyirigira & Pacifique Abi, 2021. "Investigating Cooking Activity Patterns and Perceptions of Air Quality Interventions among Women in Urban Rwanda," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-22, June.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:2:p:248-:d:129868. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.