African Journal of Health Sciences Vol. 18, No. 1-2, January – June 2011
Household fuel use and acute respiratory infections among younger children: an exposure assessment in Shebedino Wereda, Southern Ethiopia
Biruck Desalegn, Hammed Suleiman
Background: the health impacts of exposure to indoor air pollution have yet to become a central focus of research, development aid and policy-making.
Objective: To investigate the effect of household fuel use on acute respiratory infection in younger children at Shebedino Wereda.
Study method: The study design was cross-sectional, which employed an exposure assessment approach, collecting detailed primary data on several household-level exposure indicators (fuel type, stove type, kitchen type, housing type, ventilation, etc.) through the administration of a questionnaire in 405 households. Data were collected during January to February 2006.
Result: The response rate for the sampled households was 100%. ARI prevalence of the study area (21%) was found to be lower as compared to the national figure in 2000 (24%). The study approach appears to demonstrate a relatively consistent association between child handling practice while cooking and childhood ARI.
Conclusion: The existing environmental and socioeconomic factor in the study area has a considerable potential to contribute for environmental threats to the health of children. An obvious implication is that educating the public about the adverse effects of cooking smoke on child health and on good child handling practice through community participation is essential.
