title: Targeting Household Air Pollution for Curbing the Cardiovascular Disease Burden: A Health Priority in Sub-Saharan Africa.
abstract: Household air pollution (HAP) is a major public health problem, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa where most of the populations still rely on solid fuels for cooking, heating, and lighting. This narrative review highlights the direct and indirect evidence of the important role of HAP in cardiovascular disease, especially in sub-Saharan African countries where highest rates of major cardiovascular disease and death are observed, and thus provides ample reason for promotion of preventive interventions to reduce HAP exposures in the region. There is an urgent need for efficient strategies to educate populations on the health issues associated with this health hazard, to provide affordable clean cooking energy for poor people and to promote improved household ventilation. High-quality data on household energy practices and patterns of HAP and related health issues are still needed for efficient policy making in this region.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Groote Schuur Hospital and University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.|Medical Diagnostic Center, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Jean Jacques N
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Noubiap
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine Unit, Sangmelima Reference Hospital, Sangmelima, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Mickael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Essouma
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Centre Pasteur of Yaoundé, Member of International Network of the Pasteur Institutes, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Jean Joel R
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Bigna
mesh_terms: D017954:Africa South of the Sahara / Q000453:epidemiology; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003296:Cooking; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005648:Fuel Oils / Q000032:analysis; D006292:Health Priorities; D006801:Humans; D011050:Policy Making; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D005648:Fuel Oils