Household Air Pollution from Cooking Fuels Increases the Risk of Under-Fives Acute Respiratory Infection: Evidence from Population-Based Cross-Sectional Surveys in Tanzania

Abstract

Background and aims: Increased risk of acute respiratory infection (ARI) in children has been linked with exposure to household air pollution (HAP) from solid biomass fuels. However, information is limited on the trend use of biomass fuels and their association with ARI among children in Tanzania. The current study analysed nationally representative data from the Tanzania Demographic Health Surveys of the years 2004, 2010, and 2015-16 to explore the prevalence of the trend of cooking fuels and ARI as well as ascertain their association among under-fives.

Methods: A total sample of 20,323 under-fives were included in the current analysis. A mixed-effects multilevel logistic regression was fitted to assess the association between unclean fuels (solid biomass fuels and kerosene) and ARI among under-fives.

Results: The use of solid biomass fuels has remained persistent high (98.6%) while ARI among under-fives has declined from 16% in 2004 to 9% in 2016; p < 0.001. Furthermore, under-fives exposed to unclean fuel combustion had a significantly higher incidence of ARI (AOR = 3.47; 95% CI, 1.31-9.21).

Conclusion: Efforts should be made to switch to alternative sources of clean energy such as natural gas and biogas in Tanzania and other countries with similar settings.

Keywords: Household air pollution; Tanzania; acute respiratory infections; solid biomass; unclean fuels; under-five children.

Figure 1

Selection of study participants.

Figure 2

Percentage distributions of under-fives with symptoms according to the survey year, TDHS 2004–2016 (n = 20323).