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Deng Y, Steenland K, Sinharoy SS, Peel JL, Ye W, Pillarisetti A, Eick SM, Chang HH, Wang J, Chen Y, Young BN, Clark ML, Barr DB, Clasen On Behalf Of The Hapin Investigators TF. Association of household air pollution exposure and anemia among pregnant women: Analysis of baseline data from 'Household Air Pollution Intervention Network (HAPIN)' trial. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 190:108815. [PMID: 38889623 PMCID: PMC11365361 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Revised: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anemia is common in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), causing significant health issues and social burdens. Exposure to household air pollution from using biomass fuels for cooking and heating has been associated with anemia, but the exposure-response association has not been studied. OBJECTIVES We evaluated the associations between personal exposure to air pollution and both hemoglobin levels and anemia prevalence among pregnant women in a multi-country randomized controlled trial. METHODS We studied 3,163 pregnant women aged 18-35 years with 9-20 weeks of gestation, recruited as part of the Household Air Pollution Intervention Network (HAPIN) randomized controlled trial in Guatemala, India, Peru, and Rwanda. We assessed 24-hour personal exposures to fine particulate matter (PM2.5), black carbon (BC), and carbon monoxide (CO), and measured hemoglobin levels at baseline (15 ± 3 weeks gestation). Linear and logistic regression models were used to examine the associations of measured pollutants with hemoglobin levels and anemia prevalence, adjusting for confounding. RESULTS Single-pollutant models showed associations of CO with higher hemoglobin levels and lower anemia prevalence. Bipollutant models involving CO and PM2.5 also revealed that an interquartile range (IQR) increase in CO concentrations (2.26 ppm) was associated with higher hemoglobin levels [β = 0.04; 95 % confidence interval (CI): 0.01, 0.07], and a lower odds of anemia prevalence [odds ratios (OR) = 0.90; 95 % CI: 0.83, 0.98]. PM2.5 was inversely related to hemoglobin and positively associated with anemia, but results were not statistically significant at the 0.05 alpha level. County-specific results showed that 3 of 4 countries showed a similar association between CO and hemoglobin. We found no association of BC levels with hemoglobin levels or with anemia prevalence. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that exposure to CO is associated with higher hemoglobin and lower anemia prevalence among pregnant women, whereas PM2.5 showed the opposite associations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanling Deng
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Kyle Steenland
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Sheela S Sinharoy
- Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Jennifer L Peel
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Wenlu Ye
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Ajay Pillarisetti
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Stephanie M Eick
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Howard H Chang
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Jiantong Wang
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Yunyun Chen
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Bonnie N Young
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Maggie L Clark
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Dana Boyd Barr
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
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Adarkwa SA, Oduro MS, Morgan AK, Arhin-Donkor S. Association between exposure to smoke from cooking fuels and anaemia among women of reproductive age in Ghana. Sci Rep 2024; 14:15664. [PMID: 38977757 PMCID: PMC11231134 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-66602-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024] Open
Abstract
In low- and middle-income countries, indoor air pollution (IAP) is a serious public health concern, especially for women and children who cook with solid fuels. IAP exposure has been linked to a number of medical conditions, including pneumonia, ischemic heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer, and anaemia. Around 500 million women of reproductive age (WRA) suffer from anaemia globally, with an estimated 190 million cases in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This study, which is based on prior research, investigates the relationship between IAP exposure and anaemia among WRA in Ghana. A diverse sample of 2,406 WRA living in Ghana were interviewed, of which 58.06% were anaemic and used high-pollutant fuels for cooking. Age, place of residence, region, education level, religion, ethnicity, wealth index, type of drinking water, type of toilet facility, and type of cooking fuels were all found to be significantly linked with anaemic state by bivariate analysis. Type of cooking fuels utilized, age, region of residence, and the type of residence were shown to be significant predictors of anaemia status using sequential binary logit regression models. The results emphasise the critical need for efforts to promote the usage of clean cooking fuel in an attempt to lower anaemia prevalence in Ghana. To reduce dependency on solid fuels for cooking, initiatives should promote the use of cleaner cooking fuels and enhance the socioeconomic status of households. These interventions could have significant public health effects by reducing the burden of anaemia and improving maternal and child health outcomes due to the prevalence of anaemia among WRA. Overall, this study sheds light on the relationship between IAP exposure and anaemia in Ghana and highlights the demand for focused public health initiatives to address this serious health problem.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Michael Safo Oduro
- Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, Pharm Sci and PGS Statistics, Groton, CT, 06340, USA
| | - Anthony Kwame Morgan
- Department of Geography and Rural Development, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
| | - Seth Arhin-Donkor
- Humana Inc., Market Finance Analysis - Sr - Prd - Regional, Louisville, KY, 4020, USA
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Appiah-Dwomoh C, Tettey P, Akyeampong E, Amegbor P, Okello G, Botwe PK, Quansah R. Smoke exposure, hemoglobin levels and the prevalence of anemia: a cross-sectional study in urban informal settlement in Southern Ghana. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:854. [PMID: 38504235 PMCID: PMC10953235 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-18304-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In sub-Saharan African cities, more than half of the population lives in informal settlements. These settlements are close to smoky dumpsites, industrial plants, and polluted roads. Furthermore, polluting fuels remain their primary sources of energy for cooking and heating. Despite evidence linking smoke and its components to anaemia, none of these studies were conducted on populations living in urban informal settlements. This study investigated the risks of anemia/mean Haemoglobin (HB) levels in an informal settlement in Accra, Ghana. Exposure to smoke was examined across various sources, encompassing residences, neighborhoods, and workplaces. METHODS The study was a facility-based cross-sectional design among residents at Chorkor, an informal settlement in the Greater Accra region of Ghana. A questionnaire was administered at a community hospital during an interview to gather data on sources of smoke exposure in the household, in the neighbourhood, and in the workplace. A phlebotomist collected blood samples from the participants after the interview to assess their anaemia status. RESULTS The population (n = 320) had a high prevalence of anemia, with 49.1% of people fitting the WHO's definition of anemia, while the average HB level was 12.6 ± 2.1 g/dL. Anemia was associated with the number of different types of waste burnt simultaneously [(1 or 2: prevalence ratio (PR): 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.14, 0.99-1.28: 3+: 1.16, 1.01-1.63, p-for-trend = 0.0082)], fuel stacking [(mixed stacking: 1.27, 1.07-1.20: dirty stacking:1.65, 1.19-2.25, p-for-trend = 0.0062)], and involvement in fish smoking (1.22, 0.99-1.06). However, the lower limit of the CIs for number of different forms of garbage burned simultaneously and engagement in fish smoking included unity. Reduced mean HB levels were associated with the number of different types of waste burnt simultaneously [(1 or 2: regression coefficient (β): 95% confidence interval (CI), -0.01, -0.97- -0.99: 3+: -0.14, -0.77- -0.05)], current smoker [(yes, almost daily: -1.40, -2.01- -0.79: yes, at least once a month: -1.14, -1.79- -0.48)], Second-Hand-Smoking (SHS) (yes, almost daily: -0.77, -1.30- -0.21), fuel stacking [(mixed stacking-0.93, -1.33-0.21: dirty stacking-1.04, -1.60- -0.48)], any smoke exposure indicator in the neighbourhood (-0.84, -1.43- -0.25), living close to a major road (-0.62, -1.09- -0.49), and fish smoking (-0.41,-0.93- -0.12). CONCLUSION Although the cross-sectional design precludes causality, smoke exposure was associated with mean HB levels and anaemia among populations living in informal settlements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cyril Appiah-Dwomoh
- School of Public Health, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 30, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Prudence Tettey
- School of Public Health, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 30, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Enoch Akyeampong
- School of Public Health, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 30, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Prince Amegbor
- School of Global Public Health, New York University, New York, USA
| | - Gabriel Okello
- Institute for Sustainability Leadership, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- African Centre for Clean Air, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Paul K Botwe
- School of Public Health, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 30, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Reginald Quansah
- School of Public Health, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 30, Legon, Accra, Ghana.
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Shon H. Urbanicity and child health in 26 sub-Saharan African countries: Settlement type and its association with mortality and morbidity. Soc Sci Med 2024; 340:116401. [PMID: 38035488 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.116401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
Urbanization and changing settlement patterns have affected health environments in African countries. A profound understanding of the intricate association between urbanicity and health is imperative for formulating effective interventions. This study aims to classify settlement types based on urbanicity and assess their effects on child health in 26 African countries, utilizing data from the Demographic and Health Survey and the Global Human Settlements Layer. The advanced settlement classification incorporates a multidimensional urbanicity scale and globally standardized urban extents, along with identifying urban slums. This approach derives six distinct settlement types: urban center, urban cluster, deprived urban settlement, rural town, rural cluster, and rural village. A multilevel logistic regression model examines the relationship between settlement types and health outcomes, encompassing mortality, fever, anemia, diarrhea, and cough in children under five. The analysis reveals that children living in rural villages and deprived urban settlements face a high burden of adverse health conditions. However, the size and direction of urbanicity's effects vary depending on the specific outcome. These findings highlight the significance of tailored interventions acknowledging health environments within each settlement to promote health equity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huijoo Shon
- Department of Environmental Planning, Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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Kebede Kassaw A, Yimer A, Abey W, Molla TL, Zemariam AB. The application of machine learning approaches to determine the predictors of anemia among under five children in Ethiopia. Sci Rep 2023; 13:22919. [PMID: 38129535 PMCID: PMC10739802 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-50128-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Health professionals need a strong prediction system to reach appropriate disease diagnosis, particularly for under-five child with health problems like anemia. Diagnosis and treatment delay can potentially lead to devastating disease complications resulting in childhood mortality. However, the application of machine learning techniques using a large data set provides scientifically sounded information to solve such palpable critical health and health-related problems. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the predictors of anemia among under-5 year's age children in Ethiopia using a machine learning approach. A cross-sectional study design was done using the Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey 2016 data set. A two-stage stratified cluster sampling technique was employed to select the samples. The data analysis was conducted using Statistical Package for Social Sciences/SPSS version 25 and R-software. Data were derived from Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey. Boruta algorism was applied to select the features and determine the predictors of anemia among under-5 years-old children in Ethiopia. The machine learning algorism showed that number of children, distance to health facilities, health insurance coverage, youngest child's stool disposal, residence, mothers' wealth index, type of cooking fuel, number of family members, mothers' educational status and receiving rotavirus vaccine were the top ten important predictors for anemia among under-five children. Machine-learning algorithm was applied to determine the predictors of anemia among under- 5 year's age children in Ethiopia. We have identified the determinant factors by conducting a feature importance analysis with the Boruta algorithm. The most significant predictors were number of children, distance to health facility, health insurance coverage, youngest child's stool disposal, residence, mothers' wealth index, and type of cooking fuel. Machine learning model plays a paramount role for policy and intervention strategies related to anemia prevention and control among under-five children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdulaziz Kebede Kassaw
- Department of Health Informatics, School of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia
| | - Ali Yimer
- Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Woldia University, Po. Box: 400, Woldia, Ethiopia.
| | - Wondwosen Abey
- Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Woldia University, Po. Box: 400, Woldia, Ethiopia
| | - Tibebu Legesse Molla
- Department of Information Technology, College of Informatics, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia
| | - Alemu Birara Zemariam
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health Nursing, School of Nursing, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Woldia University, Woldia, Ethiopia
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Amadu I, Seidu AA, Mohammed A, Duku E, Miyittah MK, Ameyaw EK, Hagan JE, Musah MH, Ahinkorah BO. Assessing the combined effect of household cooking fuel and urbanicity on acute respiratory symptoms among under-five years in sub-Saharan Africa. Heliyon 2023; 9:e16546. [PMID: 37346351 PMCID: PMC10279788 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e16546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Revised: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Background This study sought to investigate the association between urbanicity (rural-urban residency), the use of solid biomass cooking fuels and the risk of Acute Respiratory Infections (ARIs) among children under the age of 5 in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Methods Cross-sectional data from the most recent surveys of the Demographic and Health Survey Program conducted in 31 sub-Saharan African countries were pooled for the analysis. The outcome variables, cough and rapid short breath were derived from questions that asked mothers if their children under the age of 5 suffered from cough and short rapid breath in the past two weeks preceding the survey. To examine the associations, multivariable negative log-log regression models were fitted for each outcome variable. Results Higher odds ratios of cough occurred among children in urban households that use unclean cooking fuel (aOR = 1.05 95% CI = 1.01, 1.08). However, lower odds ratios were observed for rural children in homes that use clean cooking fuel (aOR = 0.93 95% CI = 0.87, 0.99) relative to children in urban homes using clean cooking fuel. We also found higher odds ratios of short rapid breaths among children in rural households that use unclean cooking fuel compared with urban residents using clean cooking fuel (aOR = 1.12 95% CI = 1.08, 1.17). Conclusion Urbanicity and the use of solid biomass fuel for cooking were associated with an increased risk of symptoms of ARIs among children under five years in SSA. Thus, policymakers and stakeholders need to design and implement strategies that minimize children's exposure to pollutants from solid biomass cooking fuel. Such interventions could reduce the burden of respiratory illnesses in SSA and contribute to the realization of Sustainable Development Goal 3.9, which aims at reducing the number of diseases and deaths attributable to hazardous chemicals and pollution of air, water and soil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iddrisu Amadu
- Africa Centre of Excellence in Coastal Resilience (ACECoR)-Centre for Coastal Management, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
- Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Ghana
- Emperiks Research, NT0085, Tamale, Ghana
| | - Abdul-Aziz Seidu
- Centre for Gender and Advocacy, Takoradi Technical University, Takoradi, Box 256, Ghana
- Department of Population and Health, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Queensland, Australia
| | - Aliu Mohammed
- Department of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Eric Duku
- Africa Centre of Excellence in Coastal Resilience (ACECoR)-Centre for Coastal Management, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
- Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Ghana
- Hen Mpoano (Our Coast), Takoradi P.O. Box AX 296, Ghana
| | - Michael K. Miyittah
- Africa Centre of Excellence in Coastal Resilience (ACECoR)-Centre for Coastal Management, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Edward Kwabena Ameyaw
- Institute of Policy Studies and School of Graduate Studies, Lingnan University, Hong Kong
| | - John Elvis Hagan
- Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
- Neurocognition and Action-Biomechanics-Research Group, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Mohammed Hafiz Musah
- Department of Health Information Management, Tamale Teaching Hospital, Tamale, Ghana
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Dwomoh D, Sewor C, Annim SK, Stranges S, Kandala NB, Amegah AK. Do dietary practices and household environmental quality mediate socio-economic inequalities in child undernutrition risk in West Africa? Public Health Nutr 2023; 26:1022-1033. [PMID: 36259140 PMCID: PMC10346084 DOI: 10.1017/s1368980022002269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Revised: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We investigated the relationship between socio-economic status and child undernutrition in West Africa (WA), and further examined the mediating role of dietary practices (measured as minimum dietary diversity (MDD), minimum meal frequency (MMF) and minimum acceptable diet (MAD)) and household environmental quality (HEQ) in the observed relationship. DESIGN Thirteen countries were included in the study. We leveraged the most recent Demographic and Health Surveys datasets ranging from 2010 to 2019. Poisson regression model with robust standard errors was used to estimate prevalence ratios and their corresponding 95 % CI. Structural equation modelling was used to conduct the mediation analysis. SETTING West Africa. PARTICIPANTS 132 448 under-five children born within 5 years preceding the survey were included. RESULTS Overall, 32·5 %, 8·2 %, 20·1 % and 71·7 % of WA children were stunted, wasted, underweight and anaemic, respectively. Prevalence of undernutrition decreased with increasing maternal education and household wealth (Trend P-values < 0·001). Secondary or higher maternal education and residence in rich households were associated with statistically significant decrease in the prevalence of stunting, wasting, underweight and anaemia among children in WA. MAD was found to mediate the association of low maternal education and poor household wealth with childhood stunting and underweight by 35·9 % to 44·5 %. MDD, MMF and HEQ did not mediate the observed relationship. CONCLUSIONS The study findings enables an evaluation and improvement of existing intervention strategies through a socio-economic lens to help address the high burden of child undernutrition in WA and other developing regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duah Dwomoh
- Public Health Research Group, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Christian Sewor
- Public Health Research Group, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Samuel K Annim
- Department of Applied Economics, School of Economics, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
- Ghana Statistical Service, Accra, Ghana
| | - Saverio Stranges
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and Africa Institute, Western University, London, ON, Canada
- Department of Precision Health, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Strassen, Luxembourg
| | - Ngianga-Bakwin Kandala
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and Africa Institute, Western University, London, ON, Canada
- University of Warwick, Division of Health Sciences, Warwick Medical School, Coventry, UK
- University of the Witwatersrand, Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - A Kofi Amegah
- Public Health Research Group, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
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Klu D, Agordoh PD. Sex of household head and other household determinants of childhood anaemia among households in Ghana: regression analysis of the 2019 Malaria Indicator Survey. JOURNAL OF HEALTH, POPULATION, AND NUTRITION 2022; 41:46. [PMID: 36217188 PMCID: PMC9549624 DOI: 10.1186/s41043-022-00327-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Childhood anaemia is still a major public health concern. Although the prevalence of anaemia among children under age five is reducing in Ghana, the severity level is still worsening. This study sought to examine and compare household factors affecting the anaemia status of children under age five living in male- and female-headed households in Ghana. METHODS The study used a weighted sample of 5,799 household heads from the 2019 Ghana Malaria Indicator Survey (GMIS). A binary logistic regression analysis was used to examine the effect of sex of household heads and other household factors on the anaemia status of children under the age of five in male- and female-headed households in Ghana. All analyses were conducted at the 95% confidence level. RESULTS The results showed that a higher proportion (83.0%) of children under age five are not anaemic in households in Ghana. However, the probability of a child being anaemic is higher in male-headed households (aOR = 1.28; C.I:1.08-1.51), in the poorest (aOR = 2.41; CI: 1.59-3.65), poorer (aOR = 2.04; C.I:1.41-2.94) and middle (aOR = 1.78; C.I:1.29-2.46) household wealth category. Higher likelihood of anaemia was found among children in households that used charcoal (aOR = 1.51; C.I:1.15-1.99) and fuelwood (aOR = 1.44; C.I:1.02-2.02) for cooking. Similarly, there is a high probability of childhood anaemia in households with 5-10 members (aOR = 4.49; C.I: 3.78-5.34), 11 or more members (aOR = 7.21; C.I: 4.60-11.31) and household residing in northern part of Ghana (aOR = 1.40; C.I:1.07-1.83). The lower odds of being anaemic were recorded among children whose household heads were aged 40 years and older, household using other cooking fuels (aOR = 0.49; C.I: 0.21-0.78) and household with no bednets (aOR = 0.57; C.I: 0.44-0.74). CONCLUSIONS The GMIS data suggest that anaemia and its severity are higher among children living in MHH than among those living in FHH. The results indicate that poverty, a higher number of household members, relatively younger male household heads and the type of cooking fuel used were factors accounting for the differences in childhood anaemia in MHH and FHH. Equal attention should be given to MHH and FHH in terms of programmes and interventions aimed towards preventing and reducing childhood anaemia in Ghana.
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Affiliation(s)
- Desmond Klu
- Centre for Malaria Research, Institute of Health Research, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana.
| | - Percival Delali Agordoh
- Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Allied Health Sciences, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana
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Is biomass fuel smoke exposure associated with anemia in non-pregnant reproductive-aged women? PLoS One 2022; 17:e0272641. [PMID: 35984839 PMCID: PMC9390888 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0272641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives Sri Lanka is a developing country where the majority of households still rely on firewood for cooking. Furthermore, the prevalence of anemia among reproductive-aged women is of moderate public health importance, according the classification of World Health Organization. Despite the researchers’ ongoing efforts to investigate a link between solid fuel smoke exposure and anemia, the veracity of their findings remains uncertain. As a result, the purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between biomass fuel smoke exposure and anemia in non-pregnant reproductive-aged women in Sri Lanka. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 382 non-pregnant reproductive-aged (15 to 49 years) women in Central Province, Sri Lanka. Data was collected using a standardized interviewer-administered questionnaire, and exposure was assessed using a breath carbon monoxide monitor. Drabkin’s cynomethhemoglobin technique was used to determine blood hemoglobin concentration. Results The overall prevalence of anemia was 36.1%. The logistic regression model revealed no effect of cooking fuel type on anemic or non-anemic status after adjusting for potential confounding factors (p > 0.05). The multivariate regression analysis also discovered that cooking fuel type had no effect on women’s blood hemoglobin concentration. Conclusions The study results suggest no impact of solid fuel smoke exposure on anemia among non-pregnant, reproductive-aged women. Larger scale prospective cohort studies are recommended. The reasons behind the high prevalence of anemia among reproductive-aged women should be further investigated, and corrective measures should be implemented urgently.
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The Non-Linear Effects of Energy Efficiency Gains on the Incidence of Energy Poverty. SUSTAINABILITY 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/su131911055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Energy poverty is defined as insufficient access to modern energy resources which are relatively cleaner than the traditionally utilized ones. In this regard, the incidence of energy poverty is particularly higher in the cases of the developing countries across the globe. Accordingly, the chronic energy poverty issues in the developing countries within Sub-Saharan Africa have become a major socioeconomic and environmental concern for the associated governments. Hence, this study aims to evaluate the effects of energy efficiency gains and shocks to other key macroeconomic factors on energy poverty in the context of selected Sub-Saharan African nations. In this study, we measure energy poverty in terms of the lack of access to clean cooking fuels and technologies for the population of the selected Sub-Saharan African countries. The overall findings from the common correlated effects panel regression analysis reveal that energy efficiency gains initially aggravate the energy poverty situation but improve it later on; consequently, a U-shaped relationship between energy efficiency and access to clean cooking fuels and technologies is evidenced. Besides, the predicted threshold levels of energy efficiency are observed to be higher than the average energy efficiency level of the Sub-Saharan African nations. Moreover, the results also portray that economic growth, carbon dioxide emissions, foreign direct investment inflows, and international trade are effective in reducing energy poverty. Conversely, financial development is witnessed to be ineffective in influencing the incidence of energy poverty in this region.
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