Consequences of household air pollution on child survival: evidence from demographic and health surveys in 47 countries

Abstract

Background: Over one-third of the world’s population is exposed to household air pollution (HAP) but the separate effects of cooking with solid fuel and kerosene on childhood mortality are unclear.

Objectives: To evaluate the effects of both solid fuels and kerosene on neonatal (0-28 days) and child (29 days-59 months) mortality.

Methods: We used Demographic and Health Surveys from 47 countries and calculated adjusted relative risks (aRR) using Poisson regression models.

Results: The aRR of neonatal and child mortality in households exposed to solid fuels were 1.24 (95% CI: 1.14, 1.34) and 1.21 (95% CI: 1.12, 1.30), respectively, and the aRR for neonatal and child mortality in households exposed to kerosene were 1.34 (95% CI: 1.18, 1.52) and 1.12 (95% CI: 0.99, 1.27), controlling for individual, household, and country-level predictors of mortality.

Conclusions: Kerosene should not be classified as a clean fuel. Neonates are at risk for mortality from exposure to solid fuels and kerosene.

Keywords:

• Biomass
• Child mortality
• Cooking fuel
• Household air pollution
• Indoor air pollution
• Neonatal mortality
• Low and middle income countries
• Solid fuels