Abstract
BackgroundIndoor air pollution (IAP) from solid fuels is a serious health problem in low-income countries that can be alleviated using improved stoves. Although women are the principal users, few studies have investigated the self-assessed impact of the stoves on their health and lives.MethodsThis study was conducted in rural highland Guatemala, involving 89 intervention and 80 control Mayan Indian young women (mean 27.8 years, SD 7.2). Outcomes were assessed after approximately 18 months use of the new stove. Our objectives were to compare self-rated health and change in health among women participating in a randomised control trial comparing a chimney stove with an open fire, to describe impacts on women's daily lives and their perceptions of how reduced kitchen smoke affects their own and their children's health.ResultsOn intention-to-treat analysis, 52.8% of intervention women reported improvement in health, compared to 23.8% of control women (p < 0.001). Among 84 intervention women who reported reduced kitchen smoke as an important change, 88% linked this to improvement in their own health, particularly for non-respiratory symptoms (for example eye discomfort, headache); 57% linked reduced smoke to improvement in their children's health, particularly sore eyes.ConclusionWomen's perception of their health was improved, but although smoke reduction was valued, this was linked mainly with alleviation of non-respiratory symptoms like eye discomfort and headache. More focus on such symptoms may help in promoting demand for improved stoves and cleaner fuels, but education about more severe consequences of IAP exposure is also required.
Highlights
Indoor air pollution (IAP) from solid fuels is a serious health problem in low-income countries that can be alleviated using improved stoves
Indoor air pollution (IAP) from biomass fuels used for cooking and heating is a global health problem impacting on poor people in rural areas of low-income countries
Baseline (BQ) characteristics of the study participants are shown in Table 1, by randomisation group
Summary
Indoor air pollution (IAP) from solid fuels is a serious health problem in low-income countries that can be alleviated using improved stoves. Indoor air pollution (IAP) from biomass fuels used for cooking and heating is a global health problem impacting on poor people in rural areas of low-income countries. Solutions to reduce IAP levels, and improve health, include use of cleaner fuels, improved stoves, and better ventila-. Studies have shown that improved stoves with chimneys can reduce IAP levels by 40–60% over extended periods [3,4,5]. Cost-effectiveness [6] and cost-benefit [7] analysis support the promotion of improved stoves to reduce exposures within biomass fuelusing households, until universal access to cleaner fuels becomes achievable. There are few published studies [12,13] to date that incorporate women's perspectives on the introduction of improved stoves in populations previously using open fires
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