Practices and symptoms related to indoor air pollution reported by Kuwaiti students, teachers and university faculty

Abstract

This study investigated the presence of factors contributing to, and symptoms possibly related to, indoor air pollution in the residences of high school students and teachers, and of university students and faculty members in Kuwait. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to a representative sample of high school students and teachers and of university students and faculty members. Total mean values were 42.30 ± 11.531 (maximum possible score 80) for polluting practices, 12.88 ± 7.29 (maximum possible score 38) for symptoms and 4.72 ± 4.329 (maximum possible score 19) for association of symptoms with factors in the home. Very high Pearson correlations (p < 0.001) were obtained between practices, symptoms and association of symptoms with practices, and people living in houses with above average levels of indoor air pollution factors were significantly more likely to report symptoms than those living in houses with below average levels [odds ratio (OR) 2.444]. Students reported significantly more polluting practices than their teachers (OR above average score for secondary students was 1.84 and that for university students was 3.58). This was mirrored in the results for reported symptoms for university students (OR 1.85), but not for secondary school students. The OR for secondary school teachers versus university teachers was 3.58. There were some significant differences between governates, which may reflect differences in population. These differences may need to be taken into account in the education and promotion efforts in this area which, this study indicates, are warranted.