Mohammad Rifat Haider1,2, Mohammad Masudur Rahman3, Farahnaz Islam4, M Mahmud Khan1. 1. Department of Health Services Policy and Management, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA. 2. Department of Public Health and Informatics, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh. 3. Maternal and Child Health Division, International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh. 4. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: More than 90% of all low birthweight (LBW) babies are born in developing countries, and half of the population in developing nations uses solid fuels as their primary source of energy for cooking. An association between household use of solid biomass fuels and reduced newborn weight has been found in a number of countries. Bangladesh has a high prevalence of LBW babies (22%), and 88% of the population use solid fuels for cooking. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to explore whether indoor air pollution is associated with LBW in Bangladesh, an important determinant of infant mortality and morbidity. METHODS: The 2011 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) was used for the present analysis. The total number of births reported in the previous five years by respondents in the survey sample was 8,753. Mothers' recall of their baby's weight was the dependent dichotomous variable. A mixed effects logistic regression model was fitted using region as a random effect and several independent fixed effects. RESULTS: High pollutant cooking fuels, such as coal and wood, resulted in higher odds of having a LBW child compared to use of electricity/gas (odds ratio (OR): 2.6, confidence interval (CI): 1.1-6.2 and OR: 1.1, CI: 1.0-1.2). Factors which lowered the odds include mothers with a bachelor's degree or higher education (OR: 0.6, CI: 0.4-0.9), third order children (OR: 0.8, CI: 0.6-0.9), fourth or higher order children (OR: 0.8, CI: 0.6-1.0), having a male child (OR: 0.7, CI: 0.7-0.8), and receiving sufficient antenatal care (OR: 0.8, CI: 0.6-0.9). Factors which increase the odds of having a LBW infant include mothers who are underweight compared to normal weight mothers (OR: 1.1, CI: 1.1-1.2), mistimed pregnancies (OR: 1.2, CI: 1.0-1.4), or unplanned pregnancies (OR: 1.3, CI: 1.0-1.7), compared to planned pregnancies. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first paper to show an association between use of highly pollutant biomass fuel and prevalence of LBW babies in Bangladesh, suggesting that besides polluting the air and causing respiratory illnesses, biomass fuel combustion may also affect the health of fetuses in utero. Further longitudinal studies are required to establish this finding among mothers in developing countries.
BACKGROUND: More than 90% of all low birthweight (LBW) babies are born in developing countries, and half of the population in developing nations uses solid fuels as their primary source of energy for cooking. An association between household use of solid biomass fuels and reduced newborn weight has been found in a number of countries. Bangladesh has a high prevalence of LBW babies (22%), and 88% of the population use solid fuels for cooking. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to explore whether indoor air pollution is associated with LBW in Bangladesh, an important determinant of infant mortality and morbidity. METHODS: The 2011 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) was used for the present analysis. The total number of births reported in the previous five years by respondents in the survey sample was 8,753. Mothers' recall of their baby's weight was the dependent dichotomous variable. A mixed effects logistic regression model was fitted using region as a random effect and several independent fixed effects. RESULTS: High pollutant cooking fuels, such as coal and wood, resulted in higher odds of having a LBW child compared to use of electricity/gas (odds ratio (OR): 2.6, confidence interval (CI): 1.1-6.2 and OR: 1.1, CI: 1.0-1.2). Factors which lowered the odds include mothers with a bachelor's degree or higher education (OR: 0.6, CI: 0.4-0.9), third order children (OR: 0.8, CI: 0.6-0.9), fourth or higher order children (OR: 0.8, CI: 0.6-1.0), having a male child (OR: 0.7, CI: 0.7-0.8), and receiving sufficient antenatal care (OR: 0.8, CI: 0.6-0.9). Factors which increase the odds of having a LBW infant include mothers who are underweight compared to normal weight mothers (OR: 1.1, CI: 1.1-1.2), mistimed pregnancies (OR: 1.2, CI: 1.0-1.4), or unplanned pregnancies (OR: 1.3, CI: 1.0-1.7), compared to planned pregnancies. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first paper to show an association between use of highly pollutant biomass fuel and prevalence of LBW babies in Bangladesh, suggesting that besides polluting the air and causing respiratory illnesses, biomass fuel combustion may also affect the health of fetuses in utero. Further longitudinal studies are required to establish this finding among mothers in developing countries.
Entities:
Keywords:
Bangladesh; air pollution and health; biomass fuel; child health; global health; low birthweight
Authors: Daniel P Pope; Vinod Mishra; Lisa Thompson; Amna Rehana Siddiqui; Eva A Rehfuess; Martin Weber; Nigel G Bruce Journal: Epidemiol Rev Date: 2010-04-08 Impact factor: 6.222
Authors: Nusrat Jabin; Muhammad T Salam; Md Mostafijur Rahman; Tasnia Ishaque Sharna; Meredith Franklin; Anisuddin Ahmed; M A Quaiyum; Talat Islam Journal: Sci Total Environ Date: 2022-01-29 Impact factor: 7.963
Authors: Mi-Sun Lee; Ki-Do Eum; Mostofa Golam; Quazi Quamruzzaman; Molly L Kile; Maitreyi Mazumdar; David C Christiani Journal: Occup Environ Med Date: 2022-02-28 Impact factor: 4.948
Authors: Ashlinn K Quinn; Irene Apewe Adjei; Kenneth Ayuurebobi Ae-Ngibise; Oscar Agyei; Ellen Abrafi Boamah-Kaali; Katrin Burkart; Daniel Carrión; Steven N Chillrud; Carlos F Gould; Stephaney Gyaase; Darby W Jack; Seyram Kaali; Patrick L Kinney; Alison G Lee; Mohammed Nuhu Mujtaba; Felix Boakye Oppong; Seth Owusu-Agyei; Abena Yawson; Blair J Wylie; Kwaku Poku Asante Journal: Environ Int Date: 2021-06-13 Impact factor: 13.352