1Assistant Professor, Medical Physiology, Institute of Health, Jimma University Ethiopia
2Assistant Professor, Medical Biochemistry, Biomedical Sciences Department Faculty of Medical Sciences, Institute of Health, Jimma University Ethiopia
biomass fuel is used commonly for domestic cooking by most of the rural Ethiopian housewives, in an enclosed space with poor ventilation. Incomplete combustion of biomass produces harmful products which may exerts various adverse effects on lung functions.
To assess the adverse effects, if any, on pulmonary functions and respiratory symptoms in rural women using biomass fuel for cooking and compared to housewives who were not exposed.
A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted with a total of 132 study participants (66 women exposed to biomass fuel smoke and 66 controls), from September 5 to October 5, 2018. Anthropometric and spirometric measurements were carried out. SPSS version 20.0 was used for data analysis. Frequencies, means, percentage and chi-square were used for descriptive analysis. Independent sample t-test, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression was used to compare mean and relevant associations.
The mean age of biomass fuel smoke exposed and non-exposed group were 29.12 ± 8.40 and 29.21 ± 6.51 respectively. The mean of BMI among exposed group was 22.90 ± 2.47 while 23.37 ± 2.55 was in nonexposed group. Among biomass fuel smoke exposed group mean of 3.56 ± 0.70 for FVC, 2.87 ± 0.77 for FEV1, 80.40 ± 11.36 for FEV1%, 3.77 ± 1.09 for FEF25–75% and 6.60 ± 1.90 for PEFR was recorded while 3.95 ± 0.77 for FVC, 3.33 ± 0.68 for FEV1, 84.38 ± 9.19 for FEV1%, 4.33 ± 1.15 for FEF25–75% and 7.55 ± 2.31 for PEFR was recorded among controls. A significant reduction was found in pulmonary function parameters among biomass fuel smoke exposed group compared to non-exposed. The prevalence of abnormal lung function is 37.9% and 15.2% among exposed and controls respectively. Biomass fuel smoke exposed women for greater than 5 years were six times (AOR=6.321; 95%CI=2.100, 19.022; P=0.035) more likely to have pulmonary function impairment compared to those exposed for less than or equal to 5 years. The prevalence of cough, phlegm, wheeze, breathlessness and chest pain was 39.4%, 22.7%, 30.3%, 19.7% and 16.7% for exposed group respectively while 21.2%, 13.1%, 15.2%, 6.1% and 12.1% for non-exposed respectively.
This study concluded that biomass fuel smoke exposed women are at greater risk of pulmonary function impairment than non-exposed group. The prevalence of adverse respiratory symptoms was higher among biomass fuel smoke exposed compared to non-exposed.
Pulmonary function test, Body mass index, Respiratory symptoms, Indoor biomass cooking
