Effects of indoor pollution on acute respiratory infections among under-five children in India: Evidence from a
Dinabandhu Mondal1, Pintu Paul1
1Centre for the Study of Regional Development, School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India.
Insights
Indoor pollution significantly increases the risk of acute respiratory infections (ARI) in Indian children under five. Biomass fuel use and lack of separate kitchens are key risk factors, necessitating cleaner cooking fuel policies.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Pediatric Health
- Public Health
Background:
- Acute respiratory infections (ARI) are a primary cause of mortality in neonates and children globally.
- India faces a high burden of under-five mortality, with indoor pollution being a significant contributing factor.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between indoor air pollution and ARI in children under five years old in India.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study utilizing nationally representative data from the 2015-2016 National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4).
- Analysis included 247,743 children under five, employing bivariate and multivariate statistical methods.
Main Results:
- 65.2% of households used biomass fuels, 54.9% lacked a separate kitchen, and 47.2% had smokers.
- Biomass fuel use (OR: 1.10), no separate kitchen (OR: 1.22), and household smoking (OR: 1.06) were linked to increased ARI risk.
- Combined effects of biomass fuels and no separate kitchen increased ARI likelihood by 36% (aOR: 1.35).
Conclusions:
- Indoor air pollution, particularly from biomass fuels and inadequate kitchen ventilation, poses a substantial risk for ARI in young Indian children.
- Policy interventions promoting cleaner cooking fuels like LPG and electricity are crucial for reducing respiratory disease burden in vulnerable populations.
Objective:
Acute respiratory infections (ARI) are the leading causes of neonatal and child mortality. Despite several national efforts to reduce the incidence of mortality among children, India is one of the largest contributors to under-five mortality in the world. In this study, we examined the effects of indoor pollution on ARI among under-five children in India.
Methods:
A cross-sectional study was carried using nationally representative data from the 2015-2016 National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4). This study is based on 247,743 living children under the age of five years. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed to assess the impact of indoor air pollution on children's ARI.
Results:
Almost two-thirds of households (65.2%) used biomass fuels for cooking, 54.9% of households had a separate kitchen, and 47.2% of households had a smoker. About 2.7% of children suffered from ARI in the past two weeks preceding the survey. The use of biomass fuels (OR [odds ratio]: 1.10, 95% CI: 1.01-1.20), households having no separate kitchen (OR: 1.22, 95% CI: 1.14-1.30), and smoking behavior of household members (OR: 1.06, 95% CI: 1.00-1.12) were associated with greater risk of ARI among under-five children even after adjusting for age of child, sex of child, birth order, maternal age, maternal education, caste, religion, wealth quintile, any HH members suffer from tuberculosis (TB), and household crowding. Furthermore, the results revealed that the combined effects of biomass fuels and households without separate kitchen increased the likelihood of children's ARI by 36% (Adjusted OR: 1.35, 95% CI: 1.21-1.51).
Conclusion:
The findings of this study suggest policy interventions to reduce the exposure of indoor air pollution, particularly among the impoverished groups. The government should ensure cleaner fuels for cooking, such as LPG and electricity, to minimize the risk of respiratory diseases among children.
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