Impact of biomass fuels on the respiratory functions of women in Rural India

In India, about 90% of the rural population relied upon biomass fuels like animal dung, crop residues and wood. Women generally being involved in cooking are at higher risk of developing respiratory diseases following use of unclean fuels. Objective: The objective of the study is to assess the association of respiratory morbidity with different fuels and the duration of exposure in the women residing in the rural area of Maharashtra.

A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in field practice area of the Department of Community Medicine of Government Medical College in Maharashtra. Total of 994 eligible subjects were included in the study and data was collected using predesigned structured questionnaire. Abnormal pulmonary function of the study subjects was assessed by the measurement of peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR). Statistical tests such as ANOVA, bivariate and multivariate analysis were used.

Out of 994 subjects, 725 (72.9%) subjects were using only biomass fuel and 120 (12.1%) were using only LPG for domestic purposes. Lowest mean PEFR was seen in mixed fuel users, that is, 284.09 (SD ± 64.83), followed by biomass fuel users, that is, 287.88 (SD ± 61.47). Respiratory morbidity was seen in 369 (38.1%) subjects with maximum morbidity in biomass users, that is, 262 (p < 0.001). Occurrence of respiratory symptoms like dyspnoea, cough and rhinitis was significantly higher amongst the subjects using biomass fuel, with P < 0.001. Bivariate and multivariate analysis showed that use of biomass fuel, age above 60 years and EI more than 90 had higher odds of having respiratory morbidity.

The risk of developing respiratory morbidities is high in subjects using biomass fuel. Also, the occurrence of such morbid conditions depends on the higher age and longer duration of exposure to biomass smoke.