Types of Stove in Use and Respiratory and Eye Health of Nepal Rural Housewives: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

BackgroundsHealth benefits of energy transition from solid fuels to cleaner fuels can be evaluated in field study of developing countries. Even a simple cross-sectional studies may be useful for estimation of the health benefits. This study was conducted in rural Nepal with the hypothesis that the gas stove and clean fuel users may have better respiratory and eye health compared to traditional stove and solid fuel users due to the low household air pollution levels.MethodsFrom July to August 2018, we recruited 90 housewives who resided in a rural Nepal village (Nuwakot District, Likhu Municipality). We conducted a questionnaire survey, physical examination, blood test, and 24-hour monitoring of particulate matter less than 2.5 μm in diameter (PM2.5) levels in kitchen. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the association of types of stove used in kitchens with respiratory and eye symptoms in housewives.ResultsOf 90 participants, 42 and 43 used traditional and gas stove as their primary stove, respectively. Over 28% and 75% of participants experienced mild to moderate airway obstruction and watery eye symptoms during cooking. The odds ratios (95% confidence interval) of chronic cough [0.30 (0.05, 1.86)], wheezing [0.30 (0.06, 1.49)], phlegm [0.36 (0.08, 1.53)], shortness of breath [0.81 (0.31, 2.09)], high chronic obstructive pulmonary disease assessment test scores [0.36 (0.10, 1.30)], and watery eye symptoms during cooking [0.14 (0.04, 0.51)] were lower in gas stove users compared to the traditional stove users. The average 24-hour kitchen PM2.5 concentrations were lower in gas stove user houses (11 μg/m3) than in traditional stove user houses (33 μg/m3).ConclusionsGas stove and clean fuel use may be beneficial for reducing eye discomfort during cooking. Further longitudinal and intervention studies are needed to conclude whether the transition from solid fuels to cleaner fuels will be beneficial for the respiratory and eye health of Nepalese housewives.