AWARENESS OF INDOOR AIR POLLUTION AND FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THE USE OF UNCLEAN COOKING FUELS AMONG RESIDENTS OF MBALALA TOWN, MUKONO DISTRICT, UGANDA: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY.

Gloria Namazzi; David Musoke; Joseph K.B Matovu

doi:10.51168/sjhrafrica.v5i6.1166

Authors

Gloria Namazzi Makerere University School of Public Health
David Musoke Makerere University School of Public Health
Joseph K.B Matovu Makerere University School of Public Health

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51168/sjhrafrica.v5i6.1166

Keywords:

Indoor air pollution, Awareness, Unclean Cooking Fuels, Uganda

Abstract

Background

In most low- and middle-income countries, many households still rely on unclean cooking fuels (such as firewood and charcoal) despite the associated indoor air pollution exposure. We assessed people’s awareness of indoor air pollution and factors related to the use of unclean cooking fuels among residents of Mbalala town, Mukono district.

Methods

This was a descriptive cross-sectional study in which we collected both quantitative and qualitative data. Quantitative data were collected on socio-demographic characteristics, awareness of indoor air pollution (effects, causes, risks, control measures), and cooking practices (including the use of clean/unclean cooking fuels) from 385 respondents. We computed the proportions of respondents who were aware of indoor air pollution, and who used unclean fuels, and determined the factors associated with using a modified Poisson regression model. Qualitative data were collected from 10 key informants (community leaders and village health teams) and analyzed manually following a thematic framework approach.

Results

The mean age was 32.5 years (SD: ±11.5). Three-quarters of the respondents (75.3%, n=290) were aware of indoor air pollution. Awareness of indoor air pollution was associated with being 46 years or older, being male, having a tertiary/University education, and earning between US$104 and US$209 monthly. Ninety-four percent (n=350) used unclean cooking fuels. Use of unclean cooking fuels was significantly lower among men than women, and among respondents with primary/secondary education than those without education. Qualitative findings showed that participants used unclean cooking fuels because they were cheaper and accessible. Restrictions on the use of electric appliances by landlords and lack of electricity limited the use of gas cookers or other electric appliances.

Conclusion

Despite the high awareness of indoor air pollution, nearly all respondents reported using unclean cooking fuels.

Recommendation

Community sensitization on the health risks associated with the continued use of unclean cooking fuels is urgently needed.

Author Biographies

Gloria Namazzi, Makerere University School of Public Health

is a Research Assistant in the Department of Disease Control and Environmental Health at Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH), Kampala, Uganda. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Health Science from Makerere University. She is the coordinator for a short course in scientific writing organized by Elevate Research and Health Services. She has also volunteered with the United Nations under the Cameroon Association for Active Youths (CAMAAY) to develop a Community Program on Access to First Aid Needs in Emergency Situations. This paper arises from her undergraduate research in partial fulfillment for the award of the Bachelor of Environmental Health Science of Makerere University where she emerged as the overall best student in her class with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.55 out of 5.0.

David Musoke, Makerere University School of Public Health

David Musoke is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Disease Control and Environmental Health at Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH), Kampala, Uganda. He holds a Bachelor of Environmental Health Sciences from Makerere University, Uganda. MSc in International Primary Health Care from University of London (University College London), UK, and a PhD in Public Health from Cardiff Metropolitan University, UK. He is the Chair of the Grants and Research Capacity Building Committee, and Coordinator of the short course in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) at MakSPH and was instrumental in its development. He is also an Affiliate Member of the African Academy of Sciences. His research is on environmental health (including WASH), health systems / services (such as maternal health, mental health, health seeking behaviour and human resources for health), and diseases (such as malaria, non-communicable diseases, and COVID-19). He has also used photovoice, a community based participatory research methodology, in his health systems research including among youth and community health workers (CHWs). He is a member of many professional associations including Health Systems Global (HSG). Currently, he is Co-Chair of the CHWs Thematic Working Group of HSG, as well as Chair of the Africa Academy for Environmental Health. He also served as the Secretary of the International Federation of Environmental Health Africa Group from 2010 to 2020. He is an Academic Editor for the following journals: PLOS Global Public Health; BMC Public Health; and BMC Health Services Research. He has also reviewed manuscripts for over 100 public health journals. He is also a Senior Visiting Fellow at Nottingham Trent University (UK), as well as External Examiner at the University of Malawi (Malawi), Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (Kenya), National University of Science and Technology (Zimbabwe), Uganda Martyrs University Nkozi (Uganda), and Visiting Lecturer at Nkumba University (Uganda). David Musoke is a member of the Ministry of Health National Communication Working Group, and the Advisory Committee of Living Goods Uganda.

Joseph K.B Matovu, Makerere University School of Public Health

Joseph KB Matovu is a Senior Research Associate in the Department of Disease Control and Environmental Health at MakSPH, Kampala, Uganda, and an Associate Professor in the Department of Community and Public Health at Busitema University Faculty of Health Sciences, Mbale, Uganda. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work and Social Administration from Makerere University (Kampala, Uganda); a Master of Health Science (MHS) in International Health from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA; and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Public Health from Makerere University. His research interests include HIV prevention research (with a particular focus on HIV self-testing and the use of social networks to improve HIV prevention advocacy), sexual and reproductive health (cervical cancer screening, adolescent sexual and reproductive health, and FP-HIV integration), social and behaviour change communication, urban health, implementation science, and the integration of social and behavioural sciences into epidemiologic research. He is a peer reviewer with many international scientific journals; an Associate Editor with AIDS and Behaviour and BMC Public Health journals; a Guest Associate Editor with Frontiers in Public Health journal and an Academic Editor with PLoS ONE. He is a mixed methods specialist with over 100 peer-reviewed, scientific papers; over 50 conference presentations, and a book chapter. Dr. Matovu is a member of the: a) HIV prevention technical working group (PTWG) of the Uganda AIDS Commission; b) HIV self-testing task-team of the Ministry of Health; c) International AIDS Society, and d) Global UCLA-CDU CFAR Community Advisory Board.