Household Fuel Use and Acute Respiratory Infection among Young Children: An Exposure Assessment in Shebedino Woreda, Southern Ethiopia

Desalegn, Biruck (2006) Household Fuel Use and Acute Respiratory Infection among Young Children: An Exposure Assessment in Shebedino Woreda, Southern Ethiopia. Masters thesis, Addis Ababa University.

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Abstract

Indoor air pollution caused by the indoor burning of biomass fuels has been associated with increase risk of acute respiratory infections among children less than five years old in developing countries. This research was focused on the public health importance of solid fuel use in households, with the objective of investigating the effect of household fuel use on acute respiratory infection in younger children at Shebedino Woreda. The study design was cross-sectional, which employed an exposure assessment approach, collecting detailed primary data on several household-level exposure indicators through the administration of a questionnaire and Checklist for ARI screening in 405 households, together with qualitative data through Focus Group Discussion —to supplement the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) response. The households were selected proportionally using systematic sampling scheme and guardian/mothers were selected for the interview. Data were collected during January to February 2006. Ten data collectors, who were native speakers and had similar experience were employed and trained by the principal investigator and a Pediatrician for two days extensively in interviewing techniques, data recording, and approaches to promote health education and child health screening. The questionnaire responses were entered into software called EPI and analyzed using Statistical package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software. ARI prevalence of the study area (21%) was found to be lower as compared to the national figure (24%) in 2000. According to spearman’s correlation matrix for the explanatory variables, the poverty line was correlated with characteristic of the kitchen and kitchen ventilation. Moreover, educational status of head of households was correlated with characteristic and ventilation of the kitchen. Conversely, there was no sufficient evidence for the significant association of ARI prevalence with educational status of head of the household. Further analysis also shows that there was no sufficient evidence for the significant association of ARI prevalence with residence, means of income, number of rooms, stove type, and kitchen features. Result from the focus group discussion also revealed that most participants had the concept of health impact due to household fuel use and they also articulated that cow dung and straw would affect their health seriously. Moreover, few participants were not aware of the impact with stove type and over three quarter (75.8%) of the children were kept to stay indoor during the daytime. The study approach appears to demonstrate a relatively consistent association between child handling practice while cooking and childhood ARI. The existing environmental and socioeconomic factor in the study area has a considerable potential to contribute for environmental threats to the health of children. It will be no surprise that exposure to particulate matter can be high in the rural indoor areas. The research suggests further analysis in risk characterization – an in-depth understanding of the potential for child health risks in terms of exposure potentials.

Item Type:	Thesis (Masters)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	ARI, Solid Fuel, Stove Type, Ventilation, KAP, Shebedino
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences R Medicine > RJ Pediatrics R Medicine > RJ Pediatrics > RJ101 Child Health. Child health services
Divisions:	Africana
Depositing User:	Selom Ghislain
Date Deposited:	24 Sep 2018 13:09
Last Modified:	24 Sep 2018 13:09
URI:	http://thesisbank.jhia.ac.ke/id/eprint/5483

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