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Prevalence of Acute Respiratory Infections in Women and Children in Western Sierra Leone due to Smoke from Wood and Charcoal Stoves

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  • Eldred Tunde Taylor

    (Graduate School of Environment and Information Sciences, Yokohama National University, 79-7 Tokiwadai, Hodogaya-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 240-8501, Japan
    Institute of Environmental Management and Quality Control, Njala University, Njala, Moyamba District, Sierra Leone)

  • Satoshi Nakai

    (Graduate School of Environment and Information Sciences, Yokohama National University, 79-7 Tokiwadai, Hodogaya-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 240-8501, Japan)

Abstract

Combustion of biomass fuels (wood and charcoal) for cooking releases smoke that contains health damaging pollutants. Women and children are the most affected. Exposure to biomass smoke is associated with acute respiratory infections (ARI). This study investigated the prevalence of ARI potentially caused by smoke from wood and charcoal stoves in Western Sierra Leone, as these two fuels are the predominant fuel types used for cooking. A cross sectional study was conducted for 520 women age 15–45 years; and 520 children under 5 years of age in homes that burn wood and charcoal. A questionnaire assessing demographic, household and exposure characteristics and ARI was administered to every woman who further gave information for the child. Suspended particulate matter (SPM) was continuously monitored in fifteen homes. ARI prevalence revealed 32% and 24% for women, 64% and 44% for children in homes with wood and charcoal stoves, respectively. After adjusting for potential confounders for each group, the odds ratio of having suffered from ARI was similar for women, but remained large for children in homes with wood stoves relative to charcoal stoves (OR = 1.14, 95%CI: 0.71–1.82) and (OR = 2.03, 95%CI: 1.31–3.13), respectively. ARI prevalence was higher for children in homes with wood stoves compared with homes with charcoal stoves, but ARI prevalence for both types of fuels is higher compared with reported prevalence elsewhere. To achieve a reduction in ARI would require switching from wood and charcoal to cleaner fuels.

Suggested Citation

  • Eldred Tunde Taylor & Satoshi Nakai, 2012. "Prevalence of Acute Respiratory Infections in Women and Children in Western Sierra Leone due to Smoke from Wood and Charcoal Stoves," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 9(6), pages 1-14, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:9:y:2012:i:6:p:2252-2265:d:18429
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. James H. Kilabuko & Satoshi Nakai, 2007. "Effects of Cooking Fuels on Acute Respiratory Infections in Children in Tanzania," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 4(4), pages 1-6, December.
    2. Margolis, P.A. & Greenberg, R.A. & Keyes, L.L. & LaVange, L.M. & Chapman, R.S. & Denny, F.W. & Bauman, K.E. & Boat, B.W., 1992. "Lower respiratory illness in infants and low socioeconomic status," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 82(8), pages 1119-1126.
    3. James H. Kilabuko & Hidieki Matsuki & Satoshi Nakai, 2007. "Air Quality and Acute Respiratory Illness in Biomass Fuel using homes in Bagamoyo, Tanzania," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 4(1), pages 1-6, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. 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.
    2. Katherine E. Woolley & Suzanne E. Bartington & Telesphore Kabera & Xiang-Qian Lao & Francis D. Pope & Sheila M. Greenfield & Malcolm J. Price & G. Neil Thomas, 2021. "Comparison of Respiratory Health Impacts Associated with Wood and Charcoal Biomass Fuels: A Population-Based Analysis of 475,000 Children from 30 Low- and Middle-Income Countries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-18, September.
    3. Zubaidah Al-Janabi & Katherine E. Woolley & G. Neil Thomas & Suzanne E. Bartington, 2021. "A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the Association between Domestic Cooking Energy Source Type and Respiratory Infections among Children Aged under Five Years: Evidence from Demographic and Household Surve," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-17, August.
    4. Adama Sana & Nicolas Meda & Gisèle Badoum & Benoit Kafando & Catherine Bouland, 2019. "Primary Cooking Fuel Choice and Respiratory Health Outcomes among Women in Charge of Household Cooking in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso: Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-11, March.
    5. Danielle N. Medgyesi & Heather A. Holmes & Jeff E. Angermann, 2017. "Investigation of Acute Pulmonary Deficits Associated with Biomass Fuel Cookstove Emissions in Rural Bangladesh," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-15, June.

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