HOUSEHOLD AIR QUALITY
"The timing of a child's first acute lower respiratory infection is important, because the younger a child is when he or she experiences ALRI, the greater the risk of death."
~ Dr. Ram
THE IMPORTANCE OF HOUSEHOLD AIR QUALITY
Today, pneumonia is the leading cause of child mortality worldwide, accounting for an estimated 1 million deaths annually. Globally, poor indoor air quality has lead to an increased risk of pneumonia in young children. Household air quality risk factors associated with childhood pneumonia trace back to exposure to indoor biomass smoke, crowding, a tin roof in the living space, and low socioeconomic status. Children under two years of age around the globe suffer from an Acute Lower Respiratory Infection (ALRI) each year. Reducing indoor exposure could decrease the frequency of ALRI among infants, the children at highest risk of death from these infections.
This study evaluated the association between a child's age, at first, ALRI and indoor exposure in a low-income community in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Dr. Ram and colleagues believe that early interventions to reduce indoor exposure could increase the ages at which children experience their first ALRI, especially neonates. Reducing reliance on biomass burning in these communities may improve indoor air quality in many households.
Shared Cooking Space