Primary Cooking Fuel Choice and Respiratory Health Outcomes among Women in Charge of Household Cooking in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso: Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Approximately 3 billion people, worldwide, rely primarily on biomass for cooking. This study aimed to investigate the association between respiratory symptoms among women in charge of household cooking and the type of fuel used for cooking. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted. A total of 1705 women that were randomly selected, completed the survey. We also performed a bivariate and a multivariate analysis to verify the possible associations between respiratory symptoms in women in charge of household cooking and the type of cooking fuel used. Results: Dry cough, breathing difficulties, and throat irritation frequencies were statistically high in biomass fuel users when compared to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) users. It was also the case for some chronic respiratory symptoms, such as sputum production, shortness of breath, wheezing, wheezing with dyspnea, wheezing without a cold, waking up with shortness of breath, waking up with coughing attacks, and waking up with breathing difficulty. After adjustment for the respondents’ and households’ characteristics; dry cough, breathing difficulties, sneezing, nose tingling, throat irritation, chronic sputum production, wheezing, wheezing with dyspnea, wheezing without a cold, waking up with shortness of breath, waking up with coughing attacks, and waking up with breathing difficulty were symptoms that remained associated to biomass fuel compared to LPG. Women who used charcoal reported the highest proportion of all the chronic respiratory symptoms compared to the firewood users. However, this difference was not statistically significant except for the wheezing, waking up with coughing attacks, and waking up with breath difficulty, after adjustment. Conclusion: Exposure to biomass smoke is responsible for respiratory health problems in women. Charcoal, which is often considered as a clean fuel compared to other biomass fuels and often recommended as an alternative to firewood, also presents health risks, including increased respiratory morbidity in women. Effective and efficient energy policies are needed to accelerate the transition to clean and sustainable energies.

Assessment of lung function and pulmonary disorders among women involved in palm kernel oil processing in Cape Coast, Ghana

“…Similarly, other exposed workers such as restaurant workers in Thailand and women involved in community cooking using firewood in Burkina Faso reported similar symptoms and the severity was directly proportional to the extent of exposure. 25,26 Again, our exposed participants reported phlegm production and excessive salivation and same were also mentioned by the restaurant and community cooking workers above. 25,26 Lastly, the exposed participants mentioned work-related conditions such as burning and tearing of eyes, skin irritations, waist pains and feeling of slowly getting blind.…”

“…25,26 Again, our exposed participants reported phlegm production and excessive salivation and same were also mentioned by the restaurant and community cooking workers above. 25,26 Lastly, the exposed participants mentioned work-related conditions such as burning and tearing of eyes, skin irritations, waist pains and feeling of slowly getting blind. Not surprising, the workers above, and others exposed to smoke and dust in Malawi, Norway and Nepal also reported similar.…”

“…Not surprising, the workers above, and others exposed to smoke and dust in Malawi, Norway and Nepal also reported similar. [25][26][27][28][29] The feeling of getting blind is note-worthy because another palm kernel study in Kumasi, Ghana reported cataracts, pterygium and pingueculum in 150 respondents. 13 In all cases in our study, there were significant differences in symptoms between the exposed and unexposed participants.…”

Valuation of CO2 Emissions Reduction from Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Projects in Africa: A Case Study of Burkina Faso

“…Almost 90% of the population still relies on biomass (firewood and charcoal) energy mostly for cooking (REEEP, 2012;Tatsidjodoung Parfait, Marie-Hélene Dabat, 2012). However, in urban Ouagadougou (capital city), about 44% of households cook with firewood, meanwhile approximately 16% and 40% use charcoal and gas respectively (Sana et al, 2019). Nevertheless, as fuelwood consumption is gradually overweighing the production capacity, there is an increasing pressure on the already fragile forest ecosystem to meet the demand, making the system unsustainable (Tatsidjodoung Parfait, Marie-Hélene Dabat, 2012).…”

Prevalence of COPD among women and relation with cooking fuel choice in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

“…As no sampling frame was available for the neighbourhoods in question, the sampling technique used was the itineraries method. 22…”