Health Impact of Household Waste Burning in Khartoum State, Sudan

Abstract

Background

Waste disposal and management is a global concern affecting both high- and low-income countries. This research assessed the health impact of burning household waste in Khartoum State, Sudan.

Methods

An online community-based cross-sectional study was implemented on a sample of 844 participants selected through a stratified random sampling technique across Khartoum State. The data were collected through a standardized pre tested online questionnaire. The data file was georeferenced through Google Earth Pro and analysed with SPSS 23 and ArcGIS 10.3. The data were summarized numerically and graphically. The appropriate frequency tables were used in ArcGIS to generate geographical distribution maps of household waste burning and predictive health risk maps of waste burning in Khartoum State. Statistical tests performed for association carried out were Chi-square and ANOVA. A binary regression analysis established the relationship between burning of household waste and its associated factors. All statistical tests were considered significant when p < 0.05.

Results

The practice of burning household waste was performed by 74.5% (619/831) of the participants with 50.8% (311/612) who reported burning the waste weekly. The health conditions related to household waste burning were predominately asthma (57.0%) and respiratory manifestations (38.0%). Of the ten contributing factors of health risks related to burning household waste, the two statistically significant were the frequency of waste collection (OR = 0.720, 95% [CI: 0.593–0.875], p = 0.001) and the place of waste disposal (OR = 0.791, 95% [CI: 0.651–0.961], p = 0.018).

Conclusion

The practice of burning household waste in Khartoum State was a public health concern. Sociodemographic and managerial factors exposing residents to health risks appeal political, health authorities and communities to establish a partnership to manage household waste for public safety and good quality of life.

Keywords:

• burning waste
• health risk
• household waste
• municipality waste collectors
• open discharge
• waste collection

Ethical Considerations

The research proposal was submitted to and approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Medical Science and Technology. The research was implemented as an online community-based survey, which did not require ethical approval from Khartoum State Ministry of Health. The research proposal reviewed by UMST Institutional Review Board included the research questionnaire which access required to an electronic signature to obtain the informed consent of each participant. Those who checked no were automatically denied access to the research tool. The UMST IRB was aware that in the socio-cultural environment of Sudan household management can be undertaken also by participants under ≤17 years. The graduation panel which reviewed the thesis (awarded the first price of the Faculty of Medicine) from which the current submitted manuscript endorsed the inclusion of 2.8% (23/815) of the participants aged 14–17 years. The confidentiality of the participants was ensured by the use of an anonymous questionnaire. The participants were also informed on the right to withdraw from the search at any time they might wish and they were free not to address a question they did not feel to do so.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the participants who devoted their time to fill online the research instrument. We appreciate their contributions which enable this research to come to an end and voices out their challenges.

The authors would also like to recognize the contribution of Nadia Yahya, Ahmed Abdelelah, Mohammed Abdallah and Rana Mutassium, fifth year medical students for devoting their time to support the dissemination of the data collection tool.

Author Contributions

All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, whether that is in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation, or in all these areas; took part in drafting, revising or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Additional information

Funding

Hiba Waleed Makki endorsed all the financial cost related to this study in the framework of the partial fulfillment for her MBBS degree submitted to the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Medical Sciences and Technology (UMST), Khartoum, Sudan.