An Exploration of Poor Female Understanding about Health Hazards of Indoor Air Pollution in Bangladesh

Abstract

This paper will identify health hazards associated with indoor air pollution (IAP) in Bangladesh. Research into IAP in Bangladesh has been neglected for many decades. This neglect may reflect aspect of the marginalization of women in Bangladeshi society, especially as cooking is considered a social responsibility of women. The main purposes of the paper are to examine types of the IAPrelated health threats female domestic cook experienced and to understand their level of awareness about the link between IAP exposure and poor health outcomes. Two hundred female domestic cook in Rajshahi City, Bangladesh, were interviewed by using a semi-structured questionnaire interview method. Levels of monthly household income and of education, oven and fuel types are used as proxy determinants of class. Based on educational level, respondents were categorized into three classes: illiterate, primary (1-5 level) and secondary (6-10 level). It found that the higher the educational level the respondents had, the more they were likely to be aware of health effects associated with IAP. The author draws a conclusion that women with less monthly household income (below 5000 BD Taka) and minimum level of education, using solid fuels and mud-ovens in poor ventilated environment, are more likely to be exposed to IAP and, as a consequence, have greater health risks than others. Finally, as recommended, if the Bangladesh Government is able to supply green and clean fuel sources with subsidies for poor women, it would be easier for Bangladesh to achieve the 3 rd Sustainable Development Goal-ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages-at the right time (2030). Smoke in the home, the fourth greatest cause of death and diseases in the world's poorest countries, kills more people than malaria does, and almost as many as unsafe water and sanitation. It kills 1.6 million people annually, nearly a million of them are children. Most of the rest are women (Smith et al., 2005).

A Gender Differentiated Analysis of Healthy Life Expectancy in South Asia: The Role of Greenhouse Gas Emission

“…Women and children are relatively more expose to indoor air-pollution induced diseases. Therefore, (Banik, 2010) investigate the impact of indoor air pollution on female health in Bangladesh by conducting interviews of one hundred women are interviewed by using a semi-structured questionnaire. The study found a significant positive impact of indoor pollution exposure to female health.…”

The Influence of Underlying Stresses from Environmental Hazards on Resilience in Bangladesh: A System View

“…Women and children are the most susceptible to this hazard. Women spend the most time indoors in close proximity to the stove (Banik 2017). Women and children are also vulnerable to injury and violence when out collecting fuel, and the time-consuming activity of gathering fuel detracts from other productive activities and keeps children away from school (WHO 2014).…”

“…With subsidies and government intervention through policy, the use of clean fuels could be proliferated and the (Miah et al 2009;Banik 2017;Junaid et al 2018). Urmee and Gyamfi (2014) reasoned that subsidies should also be provided for training local ICS designers and manufacturers who can pass on knowledge to the users, rather than to just subsidize the cost for poor families, making the initiative more sustainable, as many ICS programs have collapsed with the end of donor funding.…”

“…Cooking practices change throughout the year and the seasonal differences in HAP particulate matter needs to be better understood (Begum et al 2009;Gurley et al 2013). Low levels of education have been associated with poor women's low awareness of the health impacts of HAP (Banik 2017).…”