Indoor air pollution an ignored public health issue: Study to find the awareness and practices regarding indoor air pollution in a rural setting near Chennai

Indoor air pollution (IAP) refers to chemical, biological and physical contamination of indoor air. It is of great concern owing to the range of ill effects it has on health. Rural India still relies on biomass fuels for cooking inspite of availability of cleaner fuels.

To assess the knowledge, and practices regarding indoor air pollution and its health hazards among rural women in Kuthambakkam village in Tamilnadu.

A cross sectional descriptive study was conducted among rural women from 150 households in Kuthambakam village in Tamilnadu. Personal interviews were conducted at their houses using a structured questionnaire. Data obtained was analyzed using SPSS version 21.

The mean age of the study participants was 38.5 years. Majority of the women were married (90.7%) or widowed (2.6%). 13.3% were illiterates. Overcrowding was found to be present in 46% households. Kitchen was not separate in 42.7% houses. Majority households used LPG (70%) as source of cooking fuel followed by wood (18%), kerosene (11.3%) and cow dung (0.7%). 4% of the houses did not have any windows in the kitchen while in remaining houses windows (64.7%) were the common mode of exhaust for smoke. The practice of burning mosquito coils and incense sticks was seen in 37.3% and 46% households respectively. The study found that 16 (38%) men smoked inside their houses. 57% women were not aware that indoor air pollution is hazardous to their health and well being.

Indoor air pollution is a looming threat often ignored by people. It is imperative to make people aware of indoor air pollution and its deleterious effects on human health.