Effectiveness of Home-based Educational Intervention on Community Perception of Indoor Air Pollution

Abstract

Background: Indoor air pollution (IAP) takes 8th place in the ranking of main causes of mortality.Increasing community perception about indoor air pollution effects is one of the most pragmatic ways that might help in taking effective preventing actions. The present study aims to evaluate the effect of a home-based education program on community perception of IAP. Subjects & Methods: A quasi-experimental research design using pre-test and post-test was conducted among 255 household heads in a rural area of Mansoura city, Egypt through a multistage stratified cluster random sample. Data were collected using a structured interview questionnaire and observational checklist. The intervention consisted of a structured home-based educational teina neitte retni IAP based on Healthy Housing Reference Manual published by the centers for disease control and prevention (CDC). Results: About 99% of the study population was exposed to at least one source of IAP and complained of at least one symptom that could be related to indoor air pollution. The pre-intervention mean score of perception of ecological/environmental and health impact of IAP was 7.2±2.6 compared with post-intervention mean scores of 9.7±0.9 with (p≤0.001). Also, the average increase in the score of perception of sources of IAP from 3.6±2.4 in the baseline to 7.4±2.8 in three months' post-intervention (p≤0.001). In addition, the average increase in the score of perception of IAP-related health problems from 3.2±1.9 in the baseline to 5.7±2.1 in three months' post-intervention (p≤0.001). furthermore, a statistically significant improvement was found in the mean score of perception of IAP-related mitigation strategies from 6.9±2.5 to 9.7±0.9 with (p≤0.001). Conclusion: Home-based IAP educational intervention is effective in significantly improving perception regarding all aspects of IAP including impact, sources, the intensity of risk, health problems, and mitigation strategies. Recommendation: Further studies are needed to expand and refine the home-based IAP education program by offering it to a larger sample in a controlled trial design with an extended follow-up period.