Residents' perspectives on a community health worker-delivered household air pollution prevention programme pilot in Eldoret, Kenya: a qualitative evaluation
Sepeedeh Saleh1, Diana Menya2, Maureene Ondayo3
1Department of Public Health, Policy & Systems, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
Background:
Household air pollution (HAP), from the use of polluting fuels for cooking, heating, and lighting, poses significant health and environmental risks, particularly in low-resource settings. The Community Household Air Pollution Prevention Programme (CHAP-PP) integrated a 'household air pollution, health, and prevention' module into Kenyan national Community Health Worker training, involving household-based education, awareness-raising, and discussions around air pollution, health, and clean energy.
Objectives:
This evaluation examined residents' perspectives on the programme, considering impacts on energy use and HAP exposures in the context of wider experiences and providing recommendations for improvement.
Methods:
This qualitative descriptive study used semi-structured interviews and one focus group discussion with purposively selected household representatives, analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.
Results:
Residents welcomed the programme, reporting enhanced knowledge around HAP-related risks, harm mitigation practices (e.g. improved ventilation), and clean fuels. The latter enabled clean fuel adoption for some, but residual challenges remained. Using the COM-B (Capability-Opportunity-Motivation-Behaviour) model we considered how the programme influenced communities' clean fuel uptake. Participants proposed solutions to financial barriers precluding clean fuel use including subsidies, value-added tax removal, and 'pay-as-you-go' schemes for liquefied petroleum gas, some of which have since been implemented.
Conclusions:
The CHAP-PP programme was felt to be successful, increasing HAP awareness and supporting harm mitigation and transitions to cleaner cooking. Findings have informed module rollout nationally and contributed to Kenya's HAP prevention strategy. Ongoing efforts aim to improve affordability and scale clean cooking solutions, with future evaluations planned to assess long-term impacts on energy use and health outcomes.\.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Community Based Intervention
Foundations of Community Mental Health Programs
Central to the success of community-based interventions is the...
01:30Primary Healthcare Services
In 1978, international leaders convened in Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan, for what would be a pivotal event in global health. The Alma-Ata Declaration was the first to call...
01:20Assessment of Ventilation I: Respiratory Rate
A Ventilation assessment is critical for monitoring a patient's health status. Respiration, one of the most accessible vital signs, provides insights into the function of numerous body systems and can indicate serious health issues, such as brainstem injuries from head trauma.
Critical Guidelines for Assessing Ventilation:
01:27Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-IV: Assessement and Diagnostic Studies
Medical History
01:26Levels of Health Promotion and Illness Prevention
In primary prevention, actions taken before disease onset prevent the disease from...
01:29Assessment of Ventilation II: Respiratory Depth and Rhythm
Respiratory depth measures the volume of air inhaled or exhaled during a breath. It can vary from shallow to deep and typically remains consistent when a person is at rest or asleep. Occasionally, individuals will automatically inhale deeply, known as sighing, which inflates the lungs with more air than normal breathing.
To assess respiratory depth, observe the degree of chest excursion or movement: