Behavioural change, indoor air pollution and child respiratory health in developing countries: a review
1Psychology Department, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park, 2006, South Africa. bbarnes@uj.ac.za.
Insights
Behavioral interventions can significantly reduce indoor air pollution exposure, a major cause of childhood pneumonia. However, current evidence is limited by weak study methods and lack of theoretical basis.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Public Health
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Indoor air pollution from solid biomass fuel burning is linked to acute respiratory infections, particularly pneumonia, in children under five.
- Behavioral change interventions are a potential strategy to mitigate indoor air pollution exposure in children.
- Limited understanding exists regarding the impact and theoretical underpinnings of these interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the impact of behavioral change interventions on reducing indoor air pollution exposure.
- To assess the incorporation of behavior change theory into such interventions.
- To identify research gaps and call for more rigorous studies.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of published studies from 1983 to 2013.
- Analysis of the effectiveness of behavioral change strategies in reducing indoor air pollution.
- Evaluation of the theoretical basis of intervention studies.
Main Results:
- Behavioral change strategies demonstrated potential to reduce indoor air pollution exposure by 20%-98% in lab settings and 31%-94% in field settings.
- Existing evidence is characterized by methodological weaknesses.
- Interventions often lack a strong foundation in established behavior change theory.
Conclusions:
- Behavioral change strategies show promise for reducing indoor air pollution exposure.
- Methodological rigor and theoretical grounding are crucial for future research.
- Further investigation is needed in developing countries, integrating improved technologies and robust behavioral science principles.
Abstract:
Indoor air pollution caused by the indoor burning of solid biomass fuels has been associated with Acute Respiratory Infections such as pneumonia amongst children of less than five years of age. Behavioural change interventions have been identified as a potential strategy to reduce child indoor air pollution exposure, yet very little is known about the impact of behavioural change interventions to reduce indoor air pollution. Even less is known about how behaviour change theory has been incorporated into indoor air pollution behaviour change interventions. A review of published studies spanning 1983-2013 suggests that behavioural change strategies have the potential to reduce indoor air pollution exposure by 20%-98% in laboratory settings and 31%-94% in field settings. However, the evidence is: (1) based on studies that are methodologically weak; and (2) have little or no underlying theory. The paper concludes with a call for more rigorous studies to evaluate the role of behavioural change strategies (with or without improved technologies) to reduce indoor air pollution exposure in developing countries as well as interventions that draw more strongly on existing behavioural change theory and practice.
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