Association between household solid fuel use and tuberculosis: cross-sectional data from the Mongolian National Tuberculosis Prevalence Survey

BACKGROUND@#Tuberculosis (TB) and indoor air pollution (IAP) are equally critical public health issues in the developing world. Mongolia is experiencing the double burden of TB and IAP due to solid fuel combustion. However, no study has assessed the relationship between household solid fuel use and TB in Mongolia. The present study aimed to assess the association between household solid fuel use and TB based on data from the Mongolian National Tuberculosis Prevalence Survey (MNTP Survey).@*METHOD@#The MNTP Survey was a nationally representative population-based cross-sectional survey targeting households in Mongolia from 2014 to 2015, with the aim of evaluating the prevalence of TB. The survey adopted a multistage cluster sampling design in accordance with the World Health Organization prevalence survey guidelines. Clusters with at least 500 residents were selected by random sampling. A sample size of 98 clusters with 54,100 participants was estimated to be required for the survey, and 41,450 participants were included in the final analysis of the present study. A structured questionnaire was used to collect information on environmental and individual factors related to TB. Physical examination, chest X-ray, and sputum examinations were also performed to diagnose TB.@*RESULTS@#The use of solid fuels for heating (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 1.5; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.1-2.1), male gender (aOR: 2.2; 95% CI: 1.6-3.2), divorced or widowed (aOR: 2.6; 95% CI: 1.7-3.8), daily smoker (aOR: 1.8; 95% CI: 1.3-2.5), contact with an active TB case (aOR: 1.7; 95% CI: 1.2-2.3), being underweight (aOR: 3.7; 95% CI: 2.4-5.7), and previous history of TB (aOR: 4.3; 95% CI: 3.0-6.1) were significantly associated with bacteriologically confirmed TB after adjusting for confounding variables.@*CONCLUSION@#The use of solid fuels for heating was significantly associated with active TB in Mongolian adults. Increased public awareness is needed on the use of household solid fuels, a source of IAP.

Housing conditions, knowledge and perceived health effects of indoor air pollution in tribal women of rural Maharashtra

Background: Dependence on using biomass fuels for cooking and heating leads to Indoor Air Pollution (IAP) which can lead to adverse health outcomes. Aim of this study was to observe the housing and kitchen conditions in households of tribal areas, assess the knowledge of women regarding the IAP and perceived health effects due to it.Methods: Cross-sectional community- based study conducted in 100 women above the age of 18 years in a tribal village. A semi-structured questionnaire was used and spot observations were made. Chi-Square was used to calculate the association between type of stove, housing conditions and health effects of IAP. Logistic regression was used to identify determinants of the health effects of IAP.Results: The mean age of women was 29 years; all houses had a separate kitchen; 34% used mud stove with wood. Easy availability and economic reasons were cited for using wood. 47% of women thought IAP present in their homes and the most common source was cooking. Symptoms like asthma, sweating, burns/rash, and headache had a significantly higher association in women using mud stove (P<0.05) than LPG stove. A strong association was found between cooking hours and health effects due to IAP (P< 0.004).Conclusions: IAP due to cooking and unfavorable housing conditions are associated with health problems in women. Knowledge regarding IAP is poor. Reasons for reliance on using mud stove needs to be addressed.

Epidemiological characteristics of household fuel use in 10 areas of China / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To describe the characteristics of cooking and heating fuel use in participants from the China Kadoorie Biobank (CKB) study.Methods The CKB study recruited 512 891 adults from 10 areas in China during 2004-2008.Information on cooking fuel and heating fuel was collected using a questionnaire in baseline survey.The proportions of various fuels used in different areas,in different populations,and at different time points were calculated and compared.Results Overall,52.1％ participants used solid fuel for cooking or heating.Rural areas had higher prevalence of solid fuel use than urban areas.The percentage of participants using solid fuel for cooking was 36.1％ (coal 20.1％,wood/charcoal 16.0％);The percentage of participants using solid fuel for heating was 36.7％ (coal 22.7％,wood/charcoal 14.0％).The prevalence of solid fuel use and the fuel type mainly used varied widely across 10 areas.The proportion of clean fuel use was lower in less-educated and lower-income people.Household coal and wood/charcoal use showed a declining trend,which was more remarkable in urban areas.Conclusion There are still a large number of rural residents and people with low income relying on solid fuel in China,which is a serious public health concern.

Epidemiological characteristics of household fuel use in 10 areas of China / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To describe the characteristics of cooking and heating fuel use in participants from the China Kadoorie Biobank (CKB) study.Methods The CKB study recruited 512 891 adults from 10 areas in China during 2004-2008.Information on cooking fuel and heating fuel was collected using a questionnaire in baseline survey.The proportions of various fuels used in different areas,in different populations,and at different time points were calculated and compared.Results Overall,52.1％ participants used solid fuel for cooking or heating.Rural areas had higher prevalence of solid fuel use than urban areas.The percentage of participants using solid fuel for cooking was 36.1％ (coal 20.1％,wood/charcoal 16.0％);The percentage of participants using solid fuel for heating was 36.7％ (coal 22.7％,wood/charcoal 14.0％).The prevalence of solid fuel use and the fuel type mainly used varied widely across 10 areas.The proportion of clean fuel use was lower in less-educated and lower-income people.Household coal and wood/charcoal use showed a declining trend,which was more remarkable in urban areas.Conclusion There are still a large number of rural residents and people with low income relying on solid fuel in China,which is a serious public health concern.