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Review
. 2025 Mar 1;31(2):89-97.
doi: 10.1097/MCP.0000000000001126. Epub 2024 Oct 18.

Household air pollution and respiratory health in Africa: persistent risk and unchanged health burdens

Nkosana Jafta  1 , Busisiwe Shezi  1   2 , Minenhle Buthelezi  1 , Shamiso Muteti-Fana  1   3 , Rajen N Naidoo  1
Affiliations
Review

Household air pollution and respiratory health in Africa: persistent risk and unchanged health burdens

Nkosana Jafta et al. Curr Opin Pulm Med. .

Abstract

Purpose of review: Despite evidence emerging from the Global Burden of Disease studies that biomass use and household air pollution are declining globally, with important positive health impacts for households in low- and middle-income countries, these trends have not been equally documented in African countries. This review describes the state of household air pollution exposure and its relationship with respiratory disease in Africa.

Recent findings: African studies on this topic are limited, and generally focus on respiratory infections. Most evidence emerge from models based on the Global Burden of Disease data, and from limited individual epidemiological studies across the continent. More than 80% of the African population is exposed to household air pollution. Women and children continue to bear the substantial burden of exposure. Evidence from limited exposure-response studies strongly points to household air pollution being the major driver of acute and chronic respiratory diseases on the continent.

Summary: Respiratory infections, particularly in children, and other chronic respiratory diseases, are strongly attributable to household air pollution. Elimination of such exposures through interventions such as cleaner fuels and preferably, electricity, is critical to improving respiratory health on the continent.

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Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Box 1
Box 1
no caption available
FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Changes in population exposure in different regions of the world exposed to household air pollution from solid cooking fuel (reproduced from Health Effects Institute. 2024. State of Global Air Report 2024. Special Report. Boston, MA: Health Effects Institute).
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Percentage of the population using solid fuels for cooking in countries across Africa (reproduced from Health Effects Institute. 2022. State of Air Quality and Health Impacts in Africa – a report from the State of Global Air Initiative. Boston, MA: Health Effects Institute).
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Forest plot of studies on household air pollution and respiratory health outcomes stratified by respiratory outcomes.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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MeSH terms