Kitchen Smoke Research Articles

Description of the Physical Condition of the House and the Presence of Staphylococcus aureus in the Toddler's House with Pneumonia in Pakusari District, Jember Regency

Pneumonia is a significant health issue, causing both long-term and short-term mortality across all age groups globally. The Pakusari District notably has a high rate of pneumonia among toddlers. According to data from the Jember District Health Office, in 2021, there were 88 cases of toddler pneumonia in Pakusari District. Preventive measures against pneumonia include addressing its various risk factors. This study employed a quantitative descriptive research design, focusing on 23 homes with toddlers suffering from pneumonia in Pakusari District, Jember Regency, from September to November 2023. A sample of 10 houses was selected based on Gay and Diehl's (1992) theory using systematic random sampling. The findings were presented in text and tables. The study revealed that 60% of the houses had good physical conditions, while 40% had poor physical conditions. Additionally, Staphylococcus aureus was not found in most houses, with only 10% of the homes having the bacteria present. The homes with Staphylococcus aureus typically had physical conditions that did not meet health standards, including issues with ceilings, floors, ventilation, kitchen smoke holes, lighting, temperature, humidity, and occupancy density. The study suggests that the Pakusari Health Center should enhance health promotion efforts and optimize sanitation clinics. The Jember District Health Office could implement programs to increase the number of healthy homes, such as plastering programs and providing glass roof tiles. The community should regularly clean their houses and ensure adequate lighting to improve overall health conditions.

Design of Automatic Cooker Hood Using NodeMCU

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) poses a significant health risk due to long-term exposure to carbon monoxide-containing kitchen fumes. Installation of a cooker hood or kitchen smoke extractor with an automated fan is crucial for prevention. This study employed a research and development approach to evaluate the effectiveness of utilizing the NodeMCU ESP8266, MQ-7 sensor, 16x2 I2C LCD, and overall system configuration. Experimental results revealed the MQ-7 sensor's rapid response to smoke intensity changes, with an average 3.77-second response time and a range of detection up to 10cm. Relay testing for fan speed control, using three voltage inputs (5V, 9V, and 12V), categorized conditions as SLOW (PPM>10), MED (PPM <11 & >20), and HIGH (PPM>21). The tests demonstrated optimal performance, as the system successfully adjusted fan speeds based on varying smoke intensity levels, ensuring a healthy air quality environment.

Health perceptions of smart meter liquefied petroleum gas users in Nairobi's Informal Settlement

Introduction : Household air pollution (HAP) from cooking with polluting fuels increases the risk of developing respiratory diseases. The use of a smart-meter liquefied petroleum gas (LPG); Pay-as-you-go (PAYG) model that eliminates cost barriers may increase the use of LPG, reduce HAP exposure, and lower the burden of respiratory diseases. Lack of awareness of the effects of HAP is a barrier to the exclusive use of LPG. This cross-sectional study examined smart meter users' awareness of air quality and perception of health risks associated with HAP among PAYG customers in Mukuru informal settlement, Nairobi Kenya.
 Materials and Methods : The study targeted household customers who have been cooking with PAYG LPG for at least two years. Surveys (n=330) and focus group discussions (FGDs) (n=32) participants were selected using multistage and purposive sampling techniques respectively. Quantitative and qualitative data were descriptively and thematically analyzed using STATA and NVIVO respectively.
 Results : The majority, who cooked with no separate kitchen room 147(60%) were worried about kitchen smoke (p-value=0.038). Also, 129(65%) of those who used smart meter LPG with other polluting fuels (p-value =0.021), and most 79(63%) who had experienced respiratory symptoms were concerned about kitchen smoke (p-value<0.05). Results further revealed participants' overall low awareness of indoor/outdoor pollution and little concern about respiratory health risks associated with HAP, due to a focus on more immediate issues, like; food security. The motivation to use LPG was more linked to economic considerations than health benefits.
 Conclusion/Recommendation : Results highlighted the potential for the smart-meter LPG (PAYG) model for exclusive adoption of LPG especially in the informal settlement and recommended the need to create awareness of the negative effects of HAP.

Health risk perceptions of household air pollution and perceived benefits of improved stoves among pregnant women in rural Ethiopia: a mixed method study

ObjectiveSince community perceptions of the risk of biomass smoke and the benefits of improved stoves play a critical role in behaviour change to the uptake and sustainable utilisation of improved...

The mathematical model of kitchen smoke exhaust system in high-rise residential buildings considering the Influence of Stack effect

In high-rise buildings with large indoor and outdoor temperature difference, neglecting the effect of stack effect in smoke exhaust shafts may cause calculation error of the fluid network model. In this paper, the mathematical model of kitchen smoke exhaust system considering the influence of stack effect was put forward and it can be inserted different range hood sub-models. Compared with the results of six working conditions of the model without considering the stack effect, the error of the proposed model were reduced by 7.6%, 4.3%, 4.1%, 2.8%, 2.4%, and 2.1%. While the indoor and outdoor temperature difference varies from −5 °C to 49 °C, the effect of stack effect on the pressure in the flue and the flow rate for each user was studied for six operating rates s. The results show that under the combined effect of stack effect and flue resistance, the static pressure of the kitchen smoke exhaust system showed a low-high-low distribution, and the maximum static pressure in the flue moved toward the bottom with the increase of temperature difference. User flow rates exhibit a low-high-low-high distribution, with an increased flow rate in the bottom users and the largest flow rate in the top users.

Healthy Home Assesment Using Healthy Home Environmental Health Inspection Form

Home hygiene and sanitation are associated with health problems such as respiratory disorders, cardiovascular disease, infections, and mental health. A healthy home assessment needs to identify home variables that have met hygiene and sanitation requirements. This study was a descriptive cross-sectional design. Families of Diponegoro University Undergraduate Nutrition Study Program students became subjects in this study. The respondent chose a total sampling technique (121 respondents). The healthy house assessment uses the Healthy Home Environmental Health Inspection form, which includes three parts: I. House components, II. home sanitation, and III. Occupant behavior. The data were processed and analyzed descriptively. Instrument validity analysis uses the Spearman Rho correlation test, while the reliability analysis uses the Cronbach value. Most of the subject's houses were included in the healthy house category (88.9%) both from the aspect of the house components, house sanitation, and occupant behavior. The aspects which the achievement < 80% and needs improvement are ventilation, kitchen smoke holes, sewage, waterproof and closed waste disposal facilities, opening bedroom windows everyday behavior, and opening family room windows every day. Most of the aspects in this home environmental health inspection assessment form (sections 1, 2, and 3) have met the element of validity (p<0.05). The range of values for Cronbach's sections 1-3 is 0.584; 0.644; and 0.638. Most of the subject's houses belong to the category of healthy homes, but some aspects still need to be optimized. Further studies are needed to analyze factors related to healthy home assessment.

On the Mathematical Model of Kitchen Smoke Exhaust System for High-Rise Residential Buildings Considering the Influence of Thermal Pressure

On the Mathematical Model of Kitchen Smoke Exhaust System for High-Rise Residential Buildings Considering the Influence of Thermal Pressure

Household environmental factors and children's respiratory health: comparison of two cross-sectional studies over 25 years in Wuhan, China.

BackgroundOver the recent decades, residential lifestyle and household environment have changed substantially with rapid development of industrialization and urbanization in China. Whether the prevalence of respiratory diseases changed is still lack of evidence. The objective of this study is to assess potential changes in children’s respiratory disease prevalence and associated household environmental factors in Wuhan over a 25-year time interval.MethodsTwo cross-sectional studies in the Period 1 (1993 to 1996) and Period 2 (2017 to 2018) were compared in this research. Elementary school children in period 1 (N=2,517) and in period 2 (N=3,152) were recruited in Wuhan, China. The respiratory health condition, home environmental factors, and family socioeconomic status of each subject were acquired through questionnaire survey using the same protocols in both periods. We used the Chi-square test to analyze the difference of household environmental factors (focused on three indoor air quality determinants) and children’s respiratory health condition between two periods. Logistic regression models were used to assess the impacts of household environmental determinants on children’s respiratory diseases and symptoms between the two studies, by adjusting a set of covariates.ResultsThe three indoor air quality determinants have reduced substantially in prevalence from period 1 to period 2: environment tobacco smoke (ETS) from 86.6% to 45.9%, household coal use from 47.6% to 4.9%, and kitchen smoke from 58.9% to 7.3%. The prevalence of certain respiratory symptoms in children significantly decreased, such as cough with colds (51.1% to 41.6%) and phlegm with colds (22.3% to 17.7%). The prevalence of asthma was 2.5% and 2.4% and that of bronchitis was 27.1% and 29.8% in both periods. Coal use was a risk factor for asthma in period 1 (OR =2.34, 95% CI: 1.30–4.23), while it was not significantly associated with prevalence of asthma in period 2 (OR =0.60, 95% CI: 0.08–4.51).ConclusionsHousehold indoor air quality determinants and respiratory health condition of children in Wuhan has been improved over the last 25 years. At present, kitchen smoke is an important factor affecting the prevalence of wheeze whatever child has a cold or not and reducing exposure to ETS could be beneficial to protect children to be less likely to develop bronchitis.

Faktor-faktor yang Berhubungan dengan Kejadian ISPA pada Balita Berusa 6-24 Bulan di Wilayah Kerja Puskesmas Lebdosari Semarang

Background:
 Acute Respiratory Infection is an infectious disease that occupies the first position of the top ten diseases of Lebdosari Community Health Center which are mostly suffered by the community, especially in infants with an incidence of 3.32%.
 Objectives:
 This Study aims to analyze the relationship sources of indoor air pollution and family practices to the incidence of Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) in infants aged 6-24 months in the Lebdosari Community Health Center Semarang.
 Research Metodes: 
 This study used a cross-sectional design. Sample size of about 121 toddlers taken by purposive sampling technique. Data was collected using self-administered questionnaire. Analysis of research was used chi-square test.
 Results: 
 This study showed that there was a relationship between kitchen smoke (p-value = 0.029 RP = 2,676 95% CI = 1,296-5,527), the use of household insecticides (p-value = 0.045 RP = 2,974 95% CI = 1,329-6,653), presence of smokers in the house (p-value = 0.042 RP = 2,120 95% CI = 1,013-4,434), and opening windows practice (p-value = 0.001 RP = 3,191 95% CI = 1,589-6,409) with the incidence of ARI. There was no relationship between sun-curing bedding practice and hand-washing practice with the incidence of ARI.
 Conclusion: 
 There was a relationship between kitchen smoke, the use of household insecticides, presence of smokers in the house, and opening windows practice with the incidence of ARI ARI in under five Children in The Works area of Lebdosari Community Health Center Semarang.
 
 Keywords: Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI), Under-Five Children, Lebdosari Community Health Center

Faktor-Faktor Yang Berhubungan Dengan Kejadian ISPA Pada Balita Berusia 6-24 Bulan di Wilayah Kerja Puskesmas Lebdosari Semarang

Background:
 Acute Respiratory Infection is an infectious disease that occupies the first position of the top ten diseases of Lebdosari Community Health Center which are mostly suffered by the community, especially in infants with an incidence of 3.32%.
 Objectives:
 This Study aims to analyze the relationship sources of indoor air pollution and family practices to the incidence of Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) in infants aged 6-24 months in the Lebdosari Community Health Center Semarang.
 Research Metodes: 
 This study used a cross-sectional design. Sample size of about 121 toddlers taken by purposive sampling technique. Data was collected using self-administered questionnaire. Analysis of research was used chi-square test.
 Results: 
 This study showed that there was a relationship between kitchen smoke (p-value = 0.029 RP = 2,676 95% CI = 1,296-5,527), the use of household insecticides (p-value = 0.045 RP = 2,974 95% CI = 1,329-6,653), presence of smokers in the house (p-value = 0.042 RP = 2,120 95% CI = 1,013-4,434), and opening windows practice (p-value = 0.001 RP = 3,191 95% CI = 1,589-6,409) with the incidence of ARI. There was no relationship between sun-curing bedding practice and hand-washing practice with the incidence of ARI.
 Conclusion: 
 There was a relationship between kitchen smoke, the use of household insecticides, presence of smokers in the house, and opening windows practice with the incidence of ARI ARI in under five Children in The Works area of Lebdosari Community Health Center Semarang.

Review of air pollution studies in Sri Lanka

Air pollution is a growing problem in Sri Lanka mainly due to the phenomenal increase in the number of motor vehicles and traffic congestion. Regular air pollution monitoring at automated air quality stations commenced in 1997 with two monitoring stations in Colombo. Results for the period 1997-2003 showed that the levels of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and ozone are steadily increasing while the carbon monoxide levels are decreasing. These pollutants are below their air quality standards except for fine particles (PM10 and PM2.5) which are always above the national standard. Air quality in Kandy is worse than that of Colombo owing to its geographical location, increased vehicle population and traffic congestion. In Kandy, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and ozone levels exceeded the standards on 41%, 14% and 28% of the occasions during the period 2001-2005. Presence of carcinogenic polyaromatic hydrocarbons from both kitchen smoke and vehicular exhausts is a definite health hazard. Mean total concentrations of 16 prioritized PAHs (PPAHs) ranged from 57.43 to 1246.12 ng/m3 with a mean of 695.94 ng/m3 in urban heavy traffic locations in Kandy. There are increasing cases of respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease due to air pollution in Kandy. Indoor air pollution involving firewood use in congested kitchens is a major health hazard and a few limited studies show that wheezing, bronchitis and asthma incidence is found in children exposed to kitchen smoke. Air quality monitoring using bioindicators is a useful low-cost method to evaluate the pollution levels and the effects of air pollution on plants and vegetation needs more attention.

Faktor-Faktor yang Berhubungan dengan Kejadian ISPA pada Balita

ISPA in infants is the main cause of infant mortality in the world. Mortality survey conducted by Subdit in 2013 places ISPA as the biggest cause of under-five mortality in Indonesia with a percentage of 32.10% of all under-five deaths. The purpose of this study is to determine the factors associated with ISPA in infants. This research method uses a cross sectional research design. The population in this study is the total number of children under five in the village like to move OKU Regency, the sample size is 144 children under five. Chi-square statistical test results obtained p value 0,000 between the use of mosquito coils, smoking behavior, occupancy density with ISPA events in infants, and p value 0.001 kitchen smoke ventilation with ISPA events in infants. There is a significant relationship between the use of mosquito coils, smoking behavior, kitchen smoke ventilation, occupancy density.

Determinants of Acute Asthma Attack among adult asthmatic patients visiting hospitals of Tigray, Ethiopia, 2019: case control study

IntroductionAcute asthma attack is one of the most common causes of visits to hospital emergency departments in all age groups of the population and accounts for the greater part of healthcare burden from the disease. Despite, Acute asthma attack is an important public health problem that affects not only the patients, but also to the family, health professionals, health care institutions and development of the nation, little is known about the risk factors of acute asthma attack.Therefore, this study is aimed to investigate the determinants of acute asthma attack among.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to assess the determinant factors of acute asthma attack among adult asthmatic patients visiting general hospitals of central zone, Tigray, Ethiopia, 2019.MethodHospital based unmatched case control study design was conducted in general hospitals of central zone of Tigray, Ethiopia 2019. Data were collected using pretested interviewer administered questionnaire. A total of 289 study subjects (96 cases &193 controls) were selected by systematic random sampling. Data were entered to Epi data version 3.1 then exported to SPSS version 23 for analysis. Bivariate logistic regression was employed to examine the statistical association between dependent and independent variables. Variables with p value < 0.25 in binary logistic regression were entered to multivariable logistic regression model and variables with p value < 0.05 was taken as significant determinants of the outcome variable.ResultA total of 96 adult asthmatic patients who have acute asthma attack (cases) and 193 adult asthmatic patients without attack (controls)) with 100% response rate were participated in this study. Upper Respiratory tract Infection [AOR = 6.835,95% CI = 3.285,14.222], Season [AOR =2.204,95% CI = 1.011,4.805] kitchen smoke [AOR = 2.307,95%CI1.010,5.272]& sleep apnea [AOR = 9.254, 5%CI =3.563,25.460] were significantly associated with acute asthma exacerbation.

Association of cataract and sun exposure in geographically diverse populations of India: The CASE study. First Report of the ICMR-EYE SEE Study Group

To determine the prevalence of cataract and its association with sun exposure and other environmental risk factors in three different geographically diverse populations of India. Population based cross sectional study during 2010-2016. People aged ≥ 40 years residing in randomly sampled villages were enumerated (12021) and 9735 (81%) underwent ophthalmic evaluation from plains, hilly and coastal regions (3595, 3231, 2909 respectively). A detailed questionnaire-based interview about outdoor activity in present, past and remote past, usage of sun protective measures, exposure to smoke, and detailed ophthalmic examination including assessment of uncorrected and best corrected visual acuity, measurement of intraocular pressure, slit lamp examination, lens opacities categorization using LOCS III and posterior segment evaluation was done. Lifetime effective sun exposure was calculated using Melbourne formula and expressed as quintiles. These were supplemented with physical environmental measurements. Lifetime sun exposure hours, smoking, indoor kitchen smoke exposure and their association with cataract and subtypes. Prevalence of cataract calculated based on lens opacities or evidence of cataract surgery. Cataract was identified in 3231 (33.3%) participants. Prevalence of cataract in males (32.3%) and females (34.1%) was similar. Nuclear cataract was the commonest sub-type identified in 94.7% of affected eyes. Sun exposure had a significant association with cataract with odds ratio (OR) increasing from 1.6 (95% Confidence Intervals [CI]: 1.4, 1.9) in 3rd quintile, to 2.6 (CI: 2.2, 3.1) in 4th quintile and 9.4 (CI: 7.9, 11.2) in 5th quintile (p<0.0001). Cataract also showed a significant association with smoking (OR: 1.4, CI: 1.2, 1.6) and indoor kitchen smoke exposure (OR: 1.2, CI: 1.0-1.4). Nuclear cataract showed a positive association with increasing sun exposure in 3rd (β coefficient 0.5, CI:0.2-0.7), 4th (β: 0.9, CI: 0.7-1.1) and 5th (β: 2.1, CI:1.8-2.4) quintiles of sun exposure, smoking (β: 0.4, CI: 0.2-0.6) and indoor kitchen smoke exposure (β: 0.3, CI: 01-0.5) while cortical cataract showed a positive association with sun exposure only in 5th quintile (β: 2.6, CI:1.0-4.2). Posterior subcapsular cataract was not associated with any of the risk factors. Cataract is associated with increasing level of sun exposure, smoking and exposure to indoor kitchen smoke.

Architectural Design Solution for Reducing Smoke Build-Up inside Rural Kitchens in Kenya, Africa

Architectural Design Solution for Reducing Smoke Build-Up inside Rural Kitchens in Kenya, Africa Uwe Reischl, Lauren Haggerty, Olga Salinas Abstract Families living in rural Africa must rely on burning biomass as their fuel source for cooking. Examples of biomass sources include including wood, dried dung and crop residue, all of which produce high levels of smoke. Repeated long-term exposure to the smoke can cause pneumonia, emphysema and lung cancer. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that over 2 million persons die prematurely each year as a result of such exposure. The persons most affected are women and their young children. Scientists, engineers and public health professionals have attempted to address this problem in the past but have focused primarily on the use of more efficient stoves. New stoves are often difficult to maintain and cost more than families can afford. The introduction of innovative architectural ventilation design solutions has not been reported in literature. To determine whether new architectural design approaches could be used cost-effectively in reducing indoor air pollution, scale-model based laboratory simulations were carried out to study the thermodynamic and airflow characteristics inside traditional kitchens. The tests revealed that use of window and roof openings to increase ventilation negatively impacts smoke removal by lowering convection (buoyancy) of the smoke generated by a fire. Based on this insight, a new architectural design approach was developed which allows the smoke to exit the kitchen freely in spite of limited convection. The scale-model simulations yielded an 85% reduction of indoor smoke-build up. Testing of a full-scale prototype kitchen in Kenya, Africa showed a reduction of indoor kitchen smoke build-up in excess of 95%. Implementation of this design in the form of a retro-fit option for existing rural kitchens is proposed. Improvements in the health and wellbeing of women and children in rural communities is hoped for. Full Text: PDF DOI: 10.15640/jea.v7n1a1

Relationship between Household Physical Condition with The Incedence of ARI on Todler at Surabaya

Background : Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) is one of the main causes of high rates of mobility and mortality in infants in developing countries in the world. In 2015 the death rate from respiratory problems was 920,136 people, the most common in South Asia and Africa. Purpose : This study aims to analyze the relationship between the physical condition of the house and the smoking behavior of family members with the incidence of ARI in infants in Sidotopo, Surabaya. Methods: This research was an observational analytic study using cross sectional design. The sample size uses simple random sampling technique where all existing data and meet the inclusion and exclusion criteria have the same opportunity to be selected as samples. This study used chi square statistical test to determine the relationship between the physical condition of the house and the incidence of ARI Results: There is a relationship between lighting (PR = 3.35; p-value = 0.01), ventilation (PR = 5.75; p-value = 0.01), kitchen smoke holes (PR = 4.05 ; p-value = 0.01), roof of the house (PR = 3.07; p-value = 0.02), smoking behavior (PR = 5.63; p-value = 0.01) with ARI incidence and not there was a relationship between the wall of the house (PR = 0.64; p-value = 0.68) with the incidence of ARI. Conclusion: There was an relationship between the physical conditions of the house (lighting, ventilation, kitchen smoke holes, roofs of houses) and smoking with incidence of ARI in infants at Sidotopo Village.

Faktor-Faktor yang Berpengaruh terhadap Kejadian Tuberkulosis pada Wanita (Studi Kasus di RSUD Kabupaten Brebes)

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) risk in women increased during the productive age. Various problems can arise if a woman suffering from TB given the role of women, especially married, pregnant, and have children. Her role as a housewife who must carry out the task of physical and mental care of children at the same time taking care of her husband will be disrupted. To determine the chances of marital status, pregnancy, parity, physical activity, level of education, level of knowledge, the kitchen smoke pollution, household contact history, history of comorbidities DM, population density, and spacious house ventilation of TB incidence in women.Methods: The study was observational analytic study with case control design. The sample size is as much as 128 people, consisting of 64 cases and 64 controls. Sampling was done by proportional random sampling technique. Data were analyzed with univariable, bivariable, and multivariable.Results: The results of multivariate analysis, parity (OR 5.9, 95% CI 2.40-14.89, p 0.0001), contact history (OR 4.9, 95% CI 1.75-14.14, p 0.003), pollution kitchen smoke (OR 4.2, 95% CI 1.71-10.67, p 0.002), ventilation (OR 4.2, 95% CI 1.72- 10.44, p 0.002) as a risk factor for TB in women.Conclusion: The incidence of tuberculosis in women in Brebes chance or greater risk inwomen with high parity, a history of contacts, exposure to cooking smoke pollution is high and stay at home with ventilation that do not qualify health requirements.

Faktor-Faktor yang Berpengaruh terhadap Kejadian Tuberkulosis pada Wanita (Studi Kasus di RSUD Kabupaten Brebes)

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) risk in women increased during the productive age. Various problems can arise if a woman suffering from TB given the role of women, especially married, pregnant, and have children. Her role as a housewife who must carry out the task of physical and mental care of children at the same time taking care of her husband will be disrupted. To determine the chances of marital status, pregnancy, parity, physical activity, level of education, level of knowledge, the kitchen smoke pollution, household contact history, history of comorbidities DM, population density, and spacious house ventilation of TB incidence in women.Methods: The study was observational analytic study with case control design. The sample size is as much as 128 people, consisting of 64 cases and 64 controls. Sampling was done by proportional random sampling technique. Data were analyzed with univariable, bivariable, and multivariable.Results: The results of multivariate analysis, parity (OR 5.9, 95% CI 2.40-14.89, p 0.0001), contact history (OR 4.9, 95% CI 1.75-14.14, p 0.003), pollution kitchen smoke (OR 4.2, 95% CI 1.71-10.67, p 0.002), ventilation (OR 4.2, 95% CI 1.72- 10.44, p 0.002) as a risk factor for TB in women.Conclusion: The incidence of tuberculosis in women in Brebes chance or greater risk inwomen with high parity, a history of contacts, exposure to cooking smoke pollution is high and stay at home with ventilation that do not qualify health requirements.

Socio-demographic and obstetric risk factors of anaemia among pregnant women in rural Tamil Nadu

Background: Anaemia in pregnant women remains one of the most intractable public health problems in developing countries because of various socio-cultural factors like illiteracy, poverty, lack of awareness, cultural and religious taboos, poor dietary habits, and high prevalence of parasitic infestation. The study was aimed at determining the factors associated with anaemia among rural pregnant women in the field practice area of our medical college in Tamil Nadu. Methods: This is a community based cross sectional study among 270 pregnant women registered at our rural health training centre. Ethical approval and informed consent were obtained prior to the data collection. A pilot tested structured interview schedule was used to elicit questions related to socio-demographic and obstetric factors and hemoglobin levels were recorded from their mother child protection card. Various factors associated with anaemic status of the pregnant mothers were analysed using chi square for significance at 95% confidence interval. Results: Among the study participants, 41.5% were found to be anaemic. Passive smoking [kitchen smoke, cigarette/beedi smoke] (p&lt;0.004 and X2-8.2), dietary habits (p&lt;0.009 and X2-6.8), irregular iron folic acid tablet consumption (p&lt;0.0001 and X2-59.1) and deworming (p&lt;0.0001 and X2-12.4) were found to be significantly associated with anaemia.Conclusions: Anaemia is a social problem, wherein the knowledge and attitudes of the pregnant women deeply influence the disease burden. The results suggest that pregnant women and their family members should be educated to understand the importance of anaemia and its associated risk factors.

English

BACKGROUND: The increasing impact of COPD on health care resources is now being recognized as a major public health problem and is projected to be the third leading cause of death worldwide by 2020. Factually, the huge variability across our nation makes it pivotal to make epidemiological mapping and prevalence data be calculated and represented by different regions. This study was undertaken to assess the epidemiology of COPD among females from rural area of district Ambala, Haryana. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A community based, cross sectional study was conducted in 1027 females from the field practice area of Rural Training health centre located in village barara district Ambala, Haryana. The data was collected by interviewing the individuals by doing house to house visit by questionnaire based interview method, clinical examination and spirometry where necessary, after obtaining an informed and written consent. The data was statistically tested using Microsoft excel 2007, Epi Info 3.1.1 and SPSS version 17. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of COPD was observed as 5.1%. On MLR analysis, age more than 50 years (OR 13.140; CI 5.64 - 23.095), low socio economic status (OR 3.11; CI 1.547-6.25), smoking (OR 6.187; CI 2.274 - 16.836) and use of biomass as a source of fuel for cooking (OR 1.46; CI 1.087 - 3.248) and kitchen smoke exposure for more than 30 years (OR 2.479; CI 1.414 - 4.374) were found to be significantly associated with COPD. CONCLUSION: Kitchen fuel exposure and using biomass and