[h=1]The effect of exposure to wood smoke on outcomes of childhood pneumonia in Botswana[/h]
Authors: Kelly, M. S.[SUP]
1[/SUP]; Wirth, K. E.[SUP]
2[/SUP]; Madrigano, J.[SUP]
3[/SUP]; Feemster, K. A.[SUP]
4[/SUP]; Cunningham, C. K.[SUP]
5[/SUP]; Arscott-Mills, T.[SUP]
6[/SUP]; Boiditswe, S.[SUP]
7[/SUP]; Shah, S. S.[SUP]
8[/SUP]; Finalle, R.[SUP]
9[/SUP]; Steenhoff, A. P.[SUP]
10[/SUP]
Source: The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Volume 19, Number 3, 1 March 2015, pp. 349-355(7)
[h=3]Abstract:[/h] SETTING: Tertiary hospital in Gaborone, Botswana.
OBJECTIVE: To examine whether exposure to wood smoke worsens outcomes of childhood pneumonia.
DESIGN: Prospective cohort study of children aged 1?23 months meeting clinical criteria for pneumonia. Household use of wood as a cooking fuel was assessed during a face-to-face questionnaire with care givers. We estimated crude and adjusted risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for treatment failure at 48 h by household use of wood as a cooking fuel. We assessed for effect modification by age (1?5 vs. 6?23 months) and malnutrition (none vs. moderate vs. severe).
RESULTS: The median age of the 284 enrolled children was 5.9 months; 17% had moderate or severe malnutrition. Ninety-nine (35%) children failed treatment at 48 h and 17 (6%) died. In multivariable analyses, household use of wood as a cooking fuel increased the risk of treatment failure at 48 h (RR 1.44, 95%CI 1.09?1.92,
P = 0.01). This association differed by child nutritional status (
P = 0.02), with a detrimental effect observed only among children with no or moderate malnutrition.
CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to wood smoke worsens outcomes for childhood pneumonia. Efforts to prevent exposure to smoke from unprocessed fuels may improve pneumonia outcomes among children.
