Association of biomass fuel smoke with respiratory symptoms among children under 5 years of age in urban areas: results from Bangladesh Urban Health Survey, 2013

Abstract

BackgroundLittle is known regarding the effect of exposure to biomass fuel smoke inhalation on respiratory symptoms in the Bangladeshi population which is a major health hazard in most of the developing countries. This study aims to explore the association between respiratory symptoms and biomass fuel smoke exposure among children under 5 years of age.MethodsData were extracted from the Bangladesh Urban Health Survey conducted in 2013. A total of 10,575 mothers with at least one surviving children were selected. Respiratory symptoms among children under 5 years of age were considered as the primary outcome. Sequential multiple logistic regression models were used to observe the association between respiratory symptoms and biomass fuel smoke exposure adjusting the effect of residential factors and mother and child characteristics.ResultsAround 40% of the mothers exclusively used biomass fuel irrespective of the kitchen location and 54% of them were habituated in indoor cooking. The prevalence of respiratory symptoms of under-five children among in-house and outdoor biomass fuel users was 23.0% and 21.9%, respectively. Results of fitted multiple logistic regression models showed that the odds of having respiratory symptoms among children under 5 years of age were increased due to in-house biomass fuel use [OR = 1.18; 95% CI, 1.04–1.36] compared with the non-biomass user. An increased risk of respiratory symptoms was also significantly associated with mother’s birth complication [OR = 1.51; 95% CI, 1.36–1.67], non-government organization (NGO) membership of mothers [OR = 1.32; 95% CI, 1.16–1.51], age of the child (6–23m) [OR = 1.29; 95% CI, 1.10–1.52], and nutritional status (stunting) [OR = 1.18; 95% CI, 1.06–1.31].ConclusionThis study found the use of in-house biomass fuel as a significant risk factor associated with respiratory symptoms of children under 5 years of age. More longitudinal studies should be designed to establish a causal relationship between HAP (household air pollution) and respiratory symptoms among children with more direct measures of HAP and clinical procedure.

Acute respiratory infections among under-five children from households using biomass fuel in Ethiopia: systematic review and meta-analysis

“…On the other hand, the finding is lower than a study conducted in Bangladesh which claimed the prevalence of 20.44% [ 29 ]. Similarly, this finding is lower than the prevalence of acute lower respiratory infections among under-five children in 28 sub- Saharan African countries which reported 25.3% [ 30 ].…”

Respiratory symptoms and associated risk factors among under-five children in Northwest Ethiopia: community based cross-sectional study

“…In this study, we have found that the overall prevalence of respiratory symptoms among under-five children was 37.5% at [95% (CI: 34.3-41)], of these (runny nose (25.63%), phlegm (10.48%), and wheezing (9.72 were commonly reported respiratory symptoms. This finding [37.5%] was higher compared with previous studies in Ethiopia [20], India [15,21], Nepal [22], and Bangladesh [17]. The possible explanation could be the variation of the study setting, in which some of the studies were institutional-based, whereas our study was community-based, the study period, and the variability in socio-economic, housing, and environmental inequalities.…”

“…The outcome variable of this study was respiratory symptoms. Respiratory symptoms were defined in this study as to whether the children under-five years of age had been suffering from cough, shortness of breath, wheezing, chest tightness, phlegm, and a problem in the chest including blocked, or running nose [ 17 , 18 ]. Under-five children who have experienced at least one of the above-mentioned symptoms for the last 12 months prior to the study were considered as having respiratory symptoms.…”

Effects of indoor pollution on acute respiratory infections among under-five children in India: Evidence from a nationally representative population-based study

“…Similarly, Mishra et al [26] found that both biomass cooking fuels and environmental tobacco smoke significantly raised the vulnerabilities of ARI among under-five children. In Bangladesh, the use of in-house biomass fuels increased the risk of respiratory symptoms of children by 18%, after adjusting for residential factors, maternal and child characteristics [33]. Children living in households using solid fuels were 1.19 times more likely to suffer from ARI compared to those living in households using cleaner fuels for cooking in Afghanistan [34].…”