scholarly journals Association between Indoor Air Pollution and Cognitive Impairment among Adults in Rural Puducherry, South India

2018 ◽  
Vol 09 (04) ◽  
pp. 529-534 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuvaraj Krishnamoorthy ◽  
Gokul Sarveswaran ◽  
K. Sivaranjini ◽  
Manikandanesan Sakthivel ◽  
Marie Gilbert Majella ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Background: Recent evidences showed that outdoor air pollution had significant influence on cognitive functioning of adults. However, little is known regarding the association of indoor air pollution with cognitive dysfunction. Hence, the current study was done to assess the association between indoor air pollution and cognitive impairment among adults in rural Puducherry. Methodology: A community-based cross-sectional study was done among 295 adults residing in rural field practice area of tertiary care institute in Puducherry during February and March 2018. Information regarding sociodemographic profile and household was collected using pretested semi-structured questionnaire. Mini-Mental State Examination was done to assess cognitive function. We calculated adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) to identify the factors associated with cognitive impairment. Results: Among 295 participants, 173 (58.6) were in 30–59 years; 154 (52.2%) were female; and 59 (20.0%) were exposed to indoor air pollution. Prevalence of cognitive impairment in the general population was 11.9% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 8.7–16.1). Prevalence of cognitive impairment among those who were exposed to indoor air pollution was 27.1% (95% CI: 17.4–39.6). Individuals exposed to indoor air pollution (aPR = 2.18, P = 0.003) were found to have two times more chance of having cognitive impairment. Conclusion: About one-fourth of the participants were exposed to indoor air pollution, out of which more than one-fourth was found to have cognitive impairment which is twice that of the general population. Hence, prevention of exposure to indoor air pollution needs to be done through increased availability to cleaner fuels for household usage.

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 80-83
Author(s):  
Nadia Tariq ◽  
Tamkeen Jaffry ◽  
Rahma Fiaz ◽  
Abdul Majid Rajput ◽  
Sadaf Khalid

Background: Indoor air pollutants are increasingly being associated with respiratory illnesses leading to high degree of morbidity and mortality. There are not sufficient epidemiological studies from Pakistan which assess level of awareness of indoor air pollution resulting in respiratory diseases in population. Methods: This cross sectional survey was carried out on general population of Rawalpindi/Islamabad. Sample size was 223 study subjects selected by non-probability convenient sampling. Knowledge of the study subjects was determined with regard to indoor air pollution, its effects on health and different sources of indoor air pollution with the help of a questionnaire. The influence of age, gender, educational status and socio economic status on the level of awareness was also analyzed. Results: Out of total 223 participants, 115 were males and108 females. Participants aware of indoor air pollution were 91.5% and adequate awareness about its sources was 80.7%. Those who knew indoor air pollution is detrimental to health were 95.1%. Awareness about building construction dust as source of indoor air pollution was maximum (84.8%). There was significant difference in awareness among participants with different monthly incomes and educational status and also between males and females. Conclusion: This study concludes that general population of Rawalpindi/Islamabad has fairly good awareness about sources of indoor air pollution. Use of harmful material causing indoor air pollution should be limited or substituted with better ones where possible.


2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Josiah L. Kephart ◽  
Magdalena Fandiño-Del-Rio ◽  
Kirsten Koehler ◽  
Antonio Bernabe-Ortiz ◽  
J. Jaime Miranda ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Prince Alex ◽  
Kiran K. G. ◽  
Sharon Baisil ◽  
Shameena A. U. ◽  
Sanjeev Badiger

Background: Indoor air pollution is typically underreported and less regulated than its counterpart. So this study was to assess the awareness and attitude of the study population towards ill effects of indoor smoke exposure among the study population and to assess the users' perception about other alternative fuels to be used to reduce the ill effects. Objectives of the study were to assess the awareness and attitude of the study population towards ill effects of indoor smoke exposure among the study population and to assess the users' perception about other alternative fuels to be used to reduce the ill effects.Methods: It was a cross- sectional study conducted in the rural field practice area of K.S Hegde Medical Academy among the household women who spend the majority time cooking in their house. The study included 400 household women. Data was collected using a pre-tested, semi-structured questionnaire, and entered into MS Excel and analysed.Results: Most (80.8%) of them were aware that exposure to smoke affects the health of those exposed to it. Also, their perception regarding alternate fuels was good. In the study most of the study participants (92.1%) were willing to change over to a cleaner fuel.Conclusions: By raising their awareness towards the harmful effects of firewood smoke and providing awareness regarding government programmes for using cleaner fuels, the ill-effects on health of those involved in cooking can be reduced in future.


2014 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bijay Thapa ◽  
Nitendra Chaurasia

Introduction: According to WHO, half of the developing world’s population depend on biomass (wood, dung and agricultural residues) and coal for such basic needs as cooking and heating. The smoke produced from the burning of these solid fuels on open fires or traditional stoves is referred to as indoor air pollution. IAP increases the risk of COPD and of acute respiratory illness in childhood, the most important cause of death among children less than 5 years of age in developing countries. Objectives: To find out the prevalence of IAP in terms of housing, overcrowding & ventilation. To assess the frequency, extent of biomass exposure and hazards on child health. Materials and methods: The cross sectional study was carried out in the Urban area of Katahari V.D.C. 4,6,7,8 for the duration of 6 months from February to August 2013 among 200 households. Lottery method was used to choose the wards and households. Data were analyzed using percentages, proportions and statistical test (chi-square test). Results: Due to excessive production of smoke and inadequate ventilation/chimney in the kitchen, such houses showed more prevalence of respiratory problems. Fifty percent of children were ill more than four times and 46% were seen at least twice. Almost all of them had experienced respiratory problems and 20% children were diagnosed with pneumonia in health facilities and treated. Ill ventilated kitchen, rooms along with dampness and absence of day light were the main factors contributing to the diseases comprising of 56%. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jonmc.v3i1.10052 Journal of Nobel Medical College Vol.3(1) 2014; 35-39  


2018 ◽  
Vol 295 ◽  
pp. S166-S167
Author(s):  
A. Ndong ◽  
A. Verdin ◽  
J. Thomas ◽  
F. Cazier ◽  
M. Cabral ◽  
...  

2008 ◽  
Vol 66 (4) ◽  
pp. 809-813 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keithlen Cruz Moreira de Castro ◽  
Ricardo Oliveira Guerra

Functional incapacity and cognitive impairment are conditions related to the process of human aging. Cognitive impairment is considered an important predicitve factor for functional impairment in elderly populations. This cross-sectional study analyzes the association between cognitive performance and functional capacity in an elderly population sample in Natal, Brazil. A total of 213 elderly persons were assessed by the BOAS Multidimensional Questionnaire (Brazil Old Age Schedule) and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). The results of multivariate analysis and linear regression showed that age and schooling level are factors associated with cognitive performance in the elderly of this study. The final explicative model, elaborated by logistic regression, found that cognitive performance was the only predicitve variable of functional incapacity for the activities of daily living even when adjusted for sociodemographic variables.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document