Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM: Improved cookstove (ICS) programs are an intervention strategy to reduce the burden of disease attributable to household air pollution (HAP). The aim of this study is to report and compare the respiratory health outcomes for treated and non-treated women of San Luis Potosí, Mexico. METHODS: As part of a comprehensive ICS program evaluation. a health impact assessment was conducted as a panel study comparing treated and non-treated women selected from the list of program beneficiaries. The information was collected during two rounds in 2015-16 in three regions of the state of San Luis Potosí. The outcome variables were obtained through health questionnaires and spirometry tests. The average treatment effect was estimated using the double difference method combined with propensity score matching. RESULTS:A total of 716 women were evaluated (370 non-treated and 346 treated). The study groups presented significant differences in demographic and socioeconomic characteristics. On average the program showed a significant increase in FEV1 (6%, p=0.045) but did not show significant reductions in respiratory and non-respiratory symptoms. The regional impact was heterogeneous with a significant increase in the lung function parameters (FEV1 and FVC), and a significant reduction (49%, CI 95%:26-91%) in the prevalence of headache in treated women from the Huasteca compared to the Altiplano-Centro region. CONCLUSIONS:The state ICS program showed a significant impact on women’s lung function, and a reduction in the prevalence of some non-respiratory symptoms. The results were heterogeneous between the regions of the state and lost validity because of non-comparable groups. KEYWORDS: Air pollution, Particulate matter, Respiratory outcomes
Published Version
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