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Association between Wood and Other Biomass Fuels and Risk of Low Birthweight in Uganda: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of 2016 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey Data

Author

Listed:
  • Joshua Epuitai

    (Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
    Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Busitema University, Mbale P.O. Box 1460, Uganda)

  • Katherine E. Woolley

    (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)

  • G. Neil Thomas

    (Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK)

Abstract

In utero exposure to household air pollution (HAP) from polluting cooking fuels has been linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes including low birthweight (LBW). No previous study in Uganda has attempted to investigate the association between the different types of biomass cooking fuels and LBW. This study was conducted to investigate the association between wood and other biomass cooking fuel use with increased risk of LBW, using the 2016 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey for 15,270 live births within five years prior to interview. LBW, defined as birthweight of <2500 g, was estimated from maternal recall and health cards. Association between household exposure to the different solid biomass cooking fuels and LBW was determined using multivariable logistic regression. Biomass cooking fuels were used in 99.6% of the households, with few (0.3%) using cleaner fuels and 0.1% with no cooking, while the prevalence of LBW was 9.6% of all live-births. Although the crude analysis suggested an association between wood fuel use and LBW compared to other biomass and kerosene fuel use (AOR: 0.82; 95% CI: 0.67–1.00), after adjusting for socio-demographic and obstetric factors, no association was observed (AOR: 0.94; 95% CI: 0.72–1.22). LBW was significantly more likely among female neonates (AOR: 1.32 (95% CI: 1.13–1.55) and neonates born to mothers living in larger households (AOR: 1.03; 95% CI: 1.00–1.07). LBW was significantly less likely among neonates delivered at term (AOR: 0.39; 95% CI: 0.31–0.49), born to women with secondary or tertiary level of education (AOR: 0.80; 95% CI: 0.64–1.00), living in households with a higher wealth index (AOR: 0.69; 95% CI: 0.50–0.96), Eastern (AOR: 0.76; 95% CI:0.59–0.98) and Northern (AOR: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.57–0.99) regions. The study findings suggest inconclusive evidence regarding the association between the use of wood compared to other biomass and kerosene cooking fuels and risk of LBW. Given the close observed association between socioeconomic status and LBW, the Ugandan government should prioritize public health actions which support female education and broader sustainable development to improve household living standards in this setting.

Suggested Citation

  • Joshua Epuitai & Katherine E. Woolley & Suzanne E. Bartington & G. Neil Thomas, 2022. "Association between Wood and Other Biomass Fuels and Risk of Low Birthweight in Uganda: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of 2016 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey Data," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-14, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:7:p:4377-:d:787484
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Alicia Vakalopoulos & Shyamali C. Dharmage & Samath Dharmaratne & Pasan Jayasinghe & Olivia Lall & Isabella Ambrose & Rohan Weerasooriya & Dinh S. Bui & Duminda Yasaratne & Jane Heyworth & Gayan Bowat, 2021. "Household Air Pollution from Biomass Fuel for Cooking and Adverse Fetal Growth Outcomes in Rural Sri Lanka," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-11, February.
    2. 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.
    3. Daniel B. Odo & Ian A. Yang & Luke D. Knibbs, 2021. "A Systematic Review and Appraisal of Epidemiological Studies on Household Fuel Use and Its Health Effects Using Demographic and Health Surveys," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-31, February.
    4. Rasheed A. Adeyemi & Temesgen Zewotir & Shaun Ramroop, 2016. "Semiparametric Multinomial Ordinal Model to Analyze Spatial Patterns of Child Birth Weight in Nigeria," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-22, November.
    5. Ganiyu Olatunbosun Arinola & Anindita Dutta & Oluwafemi Oluwole & Christopher O. Olopade, 2018. "Household Air Pollution, Levels of Micronutrients and Heavy Metals in Cord and Maternal Blood, and Pregnancy Outcomes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-12, December.
    6. 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 & Suzanne E. Bartin, 2020. "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 ," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-14, June.
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