Distribution of sources of household air pollution: a cross-sectional study in Cameroon

BMC Public Health

Dan Pope¹  Berenice Walage²  Milaine Sandra Teugueu Guiagain²  Olivia Tania Megaptche Homla²  Romarique Mboumo Medjou²  Rose Suzie Fowoh Ngnewa²  Cyrielle Douanla Djouda²  Herman Styve Yomi Simo²  Martial Pianta Sonkoue²  André Pascal Goura³  Brice-Donald Kemnang Agokeng⁴  Jerome Ateudjieu⁴  Miranda Baame Esong⁵  Bertrand Hugo Ngahane Mbatchou⁶ 

[1] Department of Public Health and Policy, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK;Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Public Health, University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon;Meilleur Accès aux Soins de Santé (M.A. SANTE), Yaoundé, Cameroon;Meilleur Accès aux Soins de Santé (M.A. SANTE), Yaoundé, Cameroon;Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Public Health, University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon;National institute of Human Research (HIHR) CLEAN-Air (Africa) Global Health Research Group (GHRG), Mbalmayo, Cameroon;National institute of Human Research (HIHR) CLEAN-Air (Africa) Global Health Research Group (GHRG), Mbalmayo, Cameroon;Douala General Hospital, Douala, Cameroon;

关键词: Indoor air pollution;    Household air pollution;    LPG;    Fuel type;    Dschang-Cameroon;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12889-021-10350-6

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundHousehold air pollution (HAP) is a recognised risk factor for many diseases, including respiratory diseases, cardiovascular/circulatory disorders, adverse pregnancy outcomes and cataracts. Population exposure to biomass fuels, including wood, varies among countries and from one fuel source to the other. This study aimed to investigate the different sources of HAP in peri-urban and rural communities in Cameroon.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted in a representative sample of households from the Dschang Health District (DHD) region. This included 848 homes in which a range of fuels for cooking including biomass (firewood, charcoal, sawdust), kerosene and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) were used both indoors and outdoors.ResultsOf the study households, 651 (77%) reported exclusive use of firewood and 141 (17%) reported using more than one source of fuel. Exclusive use of firewood was greater in rural communities (94%) than in peri-urban communities (38%). In peri-urban communities, use of multiple fuels including LPG, wood, sawdust and kerosene, was more common (44.75%). A total of 25.03% of households in both peri-urban and rural communities reported using bottled gas (or liquified petroleum gas (LPG) for cooking. Motivations for choice of fuel included, affordability, availability, rapidity, and cultural factors.ConclusionWood is the main cooking fuel in both peri-urban and rural communities in the Dschang Health District. Supporting households (especially those with limited resources) to adopt LPG equipment for cooking, and use in a more exclusive way is required to help reduce household air pollution.

【 授权许可】

CC BY