Is biomass fuel smoke exposure associated with anemia in non-pregnant reproductive-aged women?

Abstract

Objectives Sri Lanka is a developing country where the majority of households still rely on firewood for cooking. Furthermore, the prevalence of anemia among reproductive-aged women is of moderate public health importance, according the classification of World Health Organization. Despite the researchers’ ongoing efforts to investigate a link between solid fuel smoke exposure and anemia, the veracity of their findings remains uncertain. As a result, the purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between biomass fuel smoke exposure and anemia in non-pregnant reproductive-aged women in Sri Lanka. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 382 non-pregnant reproductive-aged (15 to 49 years) women in Central Province, Sri Lanka. Data was collected using a standardized interviewer-administered questionnaire, and exposure was assessed using a breath carbon monoxide monitor. Drabkin’s cynomethhemoglobin technique was used to determine blood hemoglobin concentration. Results The overall prevalence of anemia was 36.1%. The logistic regression model revealed no effect of cooking fuel type on anemic or non-anemic status after adjusting for potential confounding factors (p > 0.05). The multivariate regression analysis also discovered that cooking fuel type had no effect on women’s blood hemoglobin concentration. Conclusions The study results suggest no impact of solid fuel smoke exposure on anemia among non-pregnant, reproductive-aged women. Larger scale prospective cohort studies are recommended. The reasons behind the high prevalence of anemia among reproductive-aged women should be further investigated, and corrective measures should be implemented urgently.

Association between exposure to smoke from cooking fuels and anaemia among women of reproductive age in Ghana

“…We found a 58.06% prevalence of anaemia (mildly anaemic, moderately anaemic, and severely anaemic) within the sample. Anaemia prevalence within our sample is significantly higher than prevalence rates from past studies, such as Pathirathna et al 26 finding a 36.1% prevalence in Sri Lanka, Habyarimana et al 44 reporting a 19.2% prevalence in Rwanda, and Ford et al 45 and Pinto 46 reporting a 23% prevalence rates in Nepal, and Timor-Leste respectively. The significantly higher anaemic condition in our sample compared with evidence from the literature, for instance, the age-standardized point prevalence of 23.18% 12 is alarming.…”

“…In their study, Pathirathna et al 26 found no significant effect of solid fuel smoke exposure on the anaemic or non-anaemic condition of reproductive-aged non-pregnant Sri Lankan women. However, because the study was cross-sectional, the findings should be interpreted with care.…”

Binge eating promotes ethanol self-administration in female rats with a history of intermittent ethanol exposure at adolescence

“…These results (Ruiz-Leyva et al, 2022) pinpoint to interactions between BE and ethanol drinking, that can favor the development of ethanol use problems. These findings are consistent with studies indicating substantial comorbidity between eating disorders and substance use disorders (Root et al, 2010), and with suggestions that common neurobiological mechanisms underly both phenomena (Lindgren et al, 2018).…”

“…Whole blood was collected by decapitation, 3 hours after the last administration, using sodium heparin as an anticoagulant. An aliquot was used for hemoglobin determination according to the Drabkin method (Pathirathna et al, 2022). The red cell package was separated from plasma by centrifuging another aliquot at 3500 rpm for 10 min.…”

Prevalence and associated factors of severity levels of anemia among women of reproductive age in sub-Saharan Africa: a multilevel ordinal logistic regression analysis

“…Compared to women living in households utilizing clean cooking fuel, those using solid cooking fuel had an increased chance of having a higher level of anemia. Research conducted in Ethiopia ( 44 ), Sri Lanka ( 45 ), and China ( 46 ) corroborate this. This might be the result of the pollutants in solid fuel causing systemic inflammation.…”