Household Fuel Preference and Its Association with Breathing Difficulty among Rural Women in Jodhpur, Rajasthan: A...

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Public Health Research
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Indoor air pollution is a significant global health issue linked to increased respiratory infections.
• Clean fuel adoption, particularly liquified petroleum gas (LPG), remains low in rural India despite initiatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate fuel preferences among rural women in Jodhpur, Rajasthan.
• To examine the association between fuel choice, participant characteristics, particulate matter (PM2.5) levels, and respiratory complaints.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 480 women aged 15+ in rural Jodhpur.
• 120 households selected for PM2.5 assessment using systematic random sampling.
• Statistical analyses included Chi-square, Fischer's exact, Mann-Whitney U, and Kruskal-Wallis tests.

Main Results:

• Biomass was the primary fuel for 43.1% of participants; liquified petroleum gas (LPG) was preferred by 32.5%.
• Higher PM2.5 levels were observed in households using biomass compared to LPG.
• Education, income, and years of cooking were significantly associated with fuel preferences (P < 0.05).

Conclusions:

• Sociodemographic factors, cooking practices, and PM2.5 concentrations are interconnected with respiratory symptoms in rural areas.
• Increased advocacy for LPG adoption is essential to reduce health risks associated with indoor air pollution.