The Influence of Varied Energy Sources and Household Socioeconomic Characteristics on the Prevalence of Acute Respiratory Infections among Children in Nakuru Town, Kenya

Abstract

Indoor Air Pollution is the result of combustion of biomass fuels, which leads to 3-4 million deaths worldwide and 500,000 deaths in Africa annually. Indoor air pollution is known to cause respiratory illnesses among children under-5. In Nakuru 39.4% of urban dwellers live below the national poverty line of KSH 2,913 per person per month, thus their accessibility to energy sources is limited to charcoal, paraffin, and other biomass. The objective of this study was to assess the influence of energy sources and household socioeconomic characteristics on the prevalence of ARI among children in Nakuru Town, Kenya. The study was conducted on 187 randomly selected households comprising of low-income and middle-income strata in Nakuru Town. Data was collected using structured questionnaires and observation of the physical characteristics of the houses. Descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression analysis tests were used to analyze the data. From the study findings, charcoal was preferred for cooking among low-income households, while gas and charcoal were preferred among middle-income households. Electricity was the most preferable source of lighting energy for both low and middle-income households. The prevalence rates of ARI for middle-income households were 80 in 100 children and 89 in 100 children in low-income households. Among low-income households, cooking was done outside due to discomfort, fire hazards and lack of space, which assisted in reducing exposure to pollutants that cause ARIs. The socioeconomic factors that were significant and affected thepresence of ARI among children in low-income households were carpeting (p=0.003) and hours spent indoors (p=0.026). In middle-income households the socioeconomic factors were insignificant and did not affect the presence on ARI in children. Overall, 78% of low-income households did not meet government ventilation standards thus landlords and homeowners should build a secure roof hatch window for ventilation. It is also recommended that cooking should be done in properly ventilated areas in order to reduce or curb the adverse human health impacts associated with pollutants from biomass fuels.