Cooking, smoking, and stunting: Effects of household air pollution sources on childhood growth in India

Abstract

This paper investigates the effects of household air pollution (HAP) on child stunting in India using a sample of 206, 898 under‐five children from the latest National Family Health Survey (2015‐16). Descriptive statistics and multivariate analysis were used to understand the association of stunting by type of cooking fuel, separate kitchen, and indoor smoking in the household. Using clean cooking fuels (CCFs), having a separate kitchen, and being unexposed to smoking can reduce the prevalence of stunting by 4%, 1%, and 1%, respectively, from the current prevalence of stunting (38%). The probability of childhood stunting among children living in households using unclean cooking fuel (UCF) was significantly higher (OR‐1.16; 95% CI: 1.13‐1.19) than those living in households using CCF. Findings were similar results in the absence of separate kitchen (OR‐1.08; 95% CI: 1.05‐1.10) and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (OR‐1.06; 95% CI: 1.04‐1.08). Households using UCF had a 16% higher likelihood of stunting, while there was a strong gradient of HAP with stunting after controlling socioeconomic and demographic factors. Therefore, the LPG programs, such as the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, may be crucial to reduce HAP and its adverse impact on stunting, and successively to achieve sustainable development goals.

The Joint Effect of Maternal Marital Status and Type of Household Cooking Fuel on Child Nutritional Status in Sub-Saharan Africa: Analysis of Cross-Sectional Surveys on Children from 31 Countries

“…Concerning the joint effect of maternal marital status and type of household cooking fuel use on stunting, we found that compared to children born to married mothers who use clean household cooking fuel, children born to single mothers who use unclean household cooking fuel, single mothers who use clean household cooking fuel, and married mothers who use unclean household cooking fuel were more likely to be stunted. This finding corroborates recent studies (e.g., [ 30 ]) that the likelihood of childhood stunting among children living in households using unclean cooking fuel was significantly higher than those living in households using clean cooking fuel. For example, Balietti and [ 31 ] found increased odds of stunting among children whose household used unclean cooking fuel.…”

Association of Parental Height With Offspring Stunting in 14 Low- and Middle-Income Countries

“…Parental smoking status, parental occupations, breastfeeding initiation time and duration time, child anemia, child acute respiratory infection (ARI), and diarrhea within 2 weeks preceding the survey, the household drinking water source was also important covariates, but they were not consistently collected or have substantial missingness in several countries, and thus, they were further adjusted in the sensitivity analyses. The DHS provides a wealth quintile for each household by evaluating standard household assets and durables, which is a relative index and a reliable proxy for household economic status ( 6 ). Parental smoking status was dichotomized (yes or no) to define whether the mother or father was a current smoker (use of smoked tobacco or smokeless tobacco) ( 25 ).…”

“…Existing studies have revealed a variety of influencing factors such as, genetic disposition, household wealth, parental education, smoking, and sanitation, that can predispose individuals to the development of stunting ( 5 , 6 ). Several recent studies further compared the magnitude between maternal and paternal influences, which generally underscored the relative importance of maternal roles for child development and health.…”

Understanding the association between gradient of cooking fuels and low birth weight in India

“…Therefore, wealth index was used as a proxy measure for household economic status. Several studies have used wealth index as a proxy for economic status ( Islam et al, 2020 ; Khan et al, 2017 ). The index is a composite score of a diverse range of household assets such as land, housing conditions, household amenities and assets, and presence of domestic servants.…”

“…A large body of literature has documented the impact of HAP from the burning of UCF on adverse pregnancy outcomes, child health, and malnutrition ( Amegah et al, 2014 ; Epstein et al, 2013 ; Islam et al, 2020 ; Khan et al, 2017 ; Kim et al, 2011 ; Pope et al, 2010 ; bib_Smith_and_Pillarisetti_2017 Smith & Pillarisetti, 2017 ; Tielsch et al, 2009 ; Torres-Duque et al, 2008 ). Women from developing countries get exposed to HAP for an average of almost 3 h while cooking at home, with pregnant women spending more time at home ( Barnes & Sen, 2004 ; Boy et al, 2002 Klepeis et al, 2001 ).…”