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Household Fuel Use for Heating and Cooking and Respiratory Health in a Low-Income, South African Coastal Community

Author

Listed:
  • Sikhumbuzo Archibald Buthelezi

    (Department of Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa
    Mangosuthu University of Technology, Durban 4031, South Africa)

  • Thandi Kapwata

    (Environment and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa)

  • Bianca Wernecke

    (Environment and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa)

  • Candice Webster

    (University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4041, South Africa)

  • Angela Mathee

    (Environment and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa
    Environmental Health Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg 2028, South Africa
    School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa)

  • Caradee Yael Wright

    (Department of Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa
    Environment and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Pretoria 0002, South Africa)

Abstract

In low-income communities, non-electric fuel sources are typically the main cause of Household Air Pollution (HAP). In Umlazi, a South African coastal, informal settlement, households use electric- and non-electric (coal, wood, gas, paraffin) energy sources for cooking and heating. The study aimed to determine whether respiratory ill health status varied by fuel type use. Using a questionnaire, respondents reported on a range of socio-demographic characteristics, dwelling type, energy use for cooking and heating as well as respiratory health symptoms. Multivariate Poisson regression was used to obtain the adjusted Odds Ratios (ORs) for the effects of electric and non-electric energy sources on prevalence of respiratory infections considering potential confounding factors. Among the 245 households that participated, Upper Respiratory Tract Infections (URTI, n = 27) were prevalent in respondents who used non-electric sources compared to electric sources for heating and cooking. There were statistically significant effects of non-electric sources for heating (adjusted OR = 3.6, 95% CI (confidence interval): 1.2–10.1, p < 0.05) and cooking (adjusted OR = 2.9, 95% CI: 1.1–7.9, p < 0.05) on prevalence of URTIs. There was a statistically significant effect of electric sources for heating (adjusted OR = 2.7, 95% CI: 1.1–6.4, p < 0.05) on prevalence of Lower Respiratory Tract Infections (LRTIs) but no evidence for relations between non-electric sources for heating and LRTIs, and electric or non-electric fuel use type for cooking and LRTIs. Energy switching, mixing or stacking could be common in these households that likely made use of multiple energy sources during a typical month depending on access to and availability of electricity, funds to pay for the energy source as well as other socio-economic or cultural factors. The importance of behaviour and social determinants of health in relation to HAP is emphasized.

Suggested Citation

  • Sikhumbuzo Archibald Buthelezi & Thandi Kapwata & Bianca Wernecke & Candice Webster & Angela Mathee & Caradee Yael Wright, 2019. "Household Fuel Use for Heating and Cooking and Respiratory Health in a Low-Income, South African Coastal Community," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-12, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:4:p:550-:d:205870
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Krieger, J. & Higgins, D.L., 2002. "Housing and health: Time again for public health action," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 92(5), pages 758-768.
    2. Kirk R. Smith, 2003. "Indoor Air Pollution," World Bank Publications - Reports 9723, The World Bank Group.
    3. Sylvia Olawumi Israel‐Akinbo & Jeanette Snowball & Gavin Fraser, 2018. "An Investigation of Multidimensional Energy Poverty among South African Low‐income Households," South African Journal of Economics, Economic Society of South Africa, vol. 86(4), pages 468-487, December.
    4. Caradee Y. Wright & Vusumuzi Nkosi & Janine Wichmann, 2018. "Respiratory Health Symptoms among Schoolchildren in Relation to Possible Food-Related Risk and Protective Factors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-10, March.
    5. Nisha Naicker & June Teare & Yusentha Balakrishna & Caradee Yael Wright & Angela Mathee, 2017. "Indoor Temperatures in Low Cost Housing in Johannesburg, South Africa," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-18, November.
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    Cited by:

    1. Suchita Srinivasan, 2023. "Social Policies and Adaptation to Extreme Weather: Evidence from South Africa," CER-ETH Economics working paper series 23/381, CER-ETH - Center of Economic Research (CER-ETH) at ETH Zurich.
    2. Oyewale Mayowa Morakinyo & Matlou Ingrid Mokgobu, 2022. "Indoor Household Exposures and Associated Morbidity and Mortality Outcomes in Children and Adults in South Africa," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-20, August.
    3. Marcel Maré & Mugendi K. M’Rithaa & Alettia Chisin, 2023. "Influencing Motivations Linked to the Adoption of Improved Flame-Based Cookstoves among Indigent South African Households: A Behaviour-Centred Design Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-19, March.

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