Increased risk of respiratory symptoms and chronic bronchitis in women using biomass fuels in Nigeria.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether respiratory symptoms and chronic bronchitis are associated with the use of biomass fuels (BMFs) among women residing in rural areas of the Ekiti State, in southwestern Nigeria.


METHODS
From January to June of 2009, we carried out a cross-sectional study including 269 adult women. To collect data on sociodemographic status, type of fuel used for cooking in the household, respiratory symptoms, and smoking history, we used a questionnaire adapted from the European Community Respiratory Health Survey. All of the participants were invited to undergo spirometry.


RESULTS
Of the 269 women in the study, 161 (59.9%) used BMFs for cooking. The proportion of women who reported respiratory symptoms was greater among those using BMFs than among those using a non-BMF-cough (13.7% vs. 3.7%); wheezing (8.7% vs. 2.8%); chest pain (7.5% vs. 1.9%); breathlessness (11.8% vs. 6.5%); nasal symptoms (9.3% vs. 4.6%); and chronic bronchitis (10.6% vs. 2.8%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the use of BMFs was associated with the following variables: cough (OR = 4.82; p = 0.01); chronic bronchitis (OR = 3.75; p = 0.04); wheezing (OR = 2.22; p = 0.23); chest pain (OR = 3.82; p = 0.09); breathlessness (OR = 1.54; p = 0.35); and nasal symptoms (OR = 2.32; p = 0.20). All of the spirometric parameters evaluated (FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC ratio, and PEF) were lower in the women using BMFs than in those using a non-BMF.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results underscore the need for women using BMFs in their households to replace them with a nontoxic type of fuel, such as electricity or gas.
Desalu
Olufemi Olumuyiwa
OO
Departamento de Medicina, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigéria. femuy1967@yahoo.co.uk
Adekoya
Adebowale Olayinka
AO
Ampitan
Bolawale Adedeji
BA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000009:adverse effects; D056804:Biofuels / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000633:toxicity*; D029481:Bronchitis, Chronic / Q000209:etiology*; D003296:Cooking / Q000295:instrumentation; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013147:Spirometry
D056804:Biofuels