Household Cooking Fuel Type and Child Anaemia in Sub-saharan Africa: Insights From Demographic and Health Surveys

Abstract

Background Childhood anaemia is one of the major public health concerns in low and middle-income countries, contributing substantially to childhood mortality and morbidity. This study, therefore, sought to investigate the association between household cooking fuel type, and the joint impact of household cooking fuel type and urbanicity on anaemia among children under the age of 5 in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods We analysed cross-sectional data of 95,056 children under the age of 5 from 29 sub-Saharan African countries. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed using chi-square test of independence and negative log-log regression respectively at p < 0.05. Results were presented as Adjusted Odds Ratios for the negative log-log regression analysis. Results The percentage of children who had anaemia was 57%. Children from rural households that depend on unclean cooking fuels were more likely to be anaemic [AOR = 1.042; 95% CI = 1.010–1.074] compared to children from urban households using unclean cooking fuel. We also found that children in female headed households [AOR = 1.047; CI = 1.019–1.076], children in large households [AOR = 1.066; CI = 1.021–1.113]; those in households with improved source of drinking water [AOR = 1.035; CI = 1.006–1.065] had higher odds of suffering from anaemia. However, children with normal weight [AOR = 0.946;CI = 0.916–0.976], children aged 4 [AOR = 0.900; CI = 0.868–0.934], children whose mothers are aged 45–49 [AOR = 0.866; CI = 0.778–0.963] and those aged 30–34 [AOR = 0.868; CI = 0.815–0.925], children whose mothers had tertiary level of education [AOR = 0.865; CI = 0.809–0.925], children in rich households [AOR = 0.935; CI = 0.904–0.968] and those in households with improved type of toilet facility [AOR = 0.955; CI = 0.929–0.981] had lower odds of being anaemic. Conclusion Our study established an association between the joint effect of type of household cooking fuel and urbanicity and anaemia among children under the age of 5 in SSA. Childs’ birthweight, current age, maternal age, sex of household head, age of household head, maternal education, wealth status, size of household, type of source of drinking water and country of residence are associated with childhood anaemia. It is therefore critical to promote the usage of clean cooking fuels among households and women in rural areas. This could be done by governments in various countries subsidising the cost of liquefied petroleum gases and cylinders. Stakeholders that seek to improve maternal and child health should also take these associated factors into consideration.