Abstract
Background: Indoor air pollution is still considered as one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide and especially in developing countries, including India. This study aims to assess social, housing, and indoor environmental factors associated with respiratory health among mothers and children. Methods: The study was conducted in the city of Tirupur, South India. We quantitatively assessed the indoor exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and carbon monoxide in relation to respiratory health among women and children. Information on health status, household characteristics and socioeconomic factors was collected using a modified standardised questionnaire. Results: This study demonstrates the significant health impact of housing and socioeconomic characteristics on the burden of respiratory illness among women and children in urban South India. Increased respiratory symptoms were recorded among women and children from low income households, and those who allowed smoking inside. The mean PM2.5 concentration measured in this study was 3.8 mg/m3 which exceeded the World Health Organization (WHO) 24 h guideline value of 0.025 mg/m3. Conclusions: This study is the first to our knowledge carried out in urban South India and the findings can be used for future intervention studies.
Highlights
The World Health Organization (WHO) has assessed the contribution of a range of risk factors to the burden of disease and revealed indoor air quality as the eight most important risk factor and responsible for 2.7% of the global burden of disease [1]
Two hundred and fifty households living in small communities in the city of Tirupur located in Coimbatore District of Tamil Nadu State, South India were approached and 170 agreed to take part in the first stage of this study consisting of questionnaire survey
This study found that housing and socioeconomic characteristics have a significant health impact on women and children from India
Summary
The World Health Organization (WHO) has assessed the contribution of a range of risk factors to the burden of disease and revealed indoor air quality as the eight most important risk factor and responsible for 2.7% of the global burden of disease [1]. Poor indoor air quality is recognised as a significant risk factor for respiratory health and especially in lower income countries including India. The level of exposure to indoor air pollution is influenced by multiple factors, both macro-environmental and micro-environmental determinants. Micro-environmental determinants include housing characteristics, whereas macro-environmental determinants consist of demographic and socioeconomic factors [2]. Some of the main housing characteristics that may contribute to indoor air pollutants include type of fuel for cooking and heating, and occupants’. This study aims to assess social, housing, and indoor environmental factors associated with respiratory health among mothers and children. Results: This study demonstrates the significant health impact of housing and socioeconomic characteristics on the burden of respiratory illness among women and children in urban South India. Conclusions: This study is the first to our knowledge carried out in urban South India and the findings can be used for future intervention studies
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