Prevalence of biomass fuel exposure in women aged 40 years and older in China, 2014 / 中华流行病学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To understand the prevalence of biomass fuel exposure in women aged ≥40 years in China during 2014-2015,and provide evidence for the prevention and control of bio-fuel exposure.Methods All participants were selected from a national representative cross-sectional survey during 2014-2015 in the mainland of China.A multi-stage stratified cluster sampling strategy was used.A total of 37 795 women aged ≥40 years received a face-to-face questionnaire survey at 125 surveillance points in 31 provinces.The level of biomass fuel exposure was analyzed after complex sample weighting to represent the overall Chinese women aged ≥40 years.Results A total of 37 777 women were included in the analysis.With complex weighting,the rate of biomass fuel exposure in Chinese women aged ≥40 years was 35.8％ (95％CI29.6％-42.1％),the exposure rate was higher in rural women than in urban women (P＜0.001).The biomass fuel exposure rate was highest in northeastern and lowest in northern areas of China (x2=17.03,P=0.009).The estimated biomass fuel exposure rate decreased with the increase of educational level (P＜ 0.001).Conclusion The prevalence of biomass fuel exposure is high in women aged ≥40 years in China,especially in those in rural areas.The exposure level differs with age and area.Appropriate measures should be taken to reduce the level of biomass fuel exposure in Chinese women.