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Feasibility of conducting a randomised controlled trial of a cookstove intervention in rural Malawi.

Jary, Hannah, Kachidiku, J, Banda, H, Kapanga, M, Doyle, J V, Banda, E, Fox, C, Gordon, Stephen ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6576-1116 and Mortimer, Kevin ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8118-8871 (2014) 'Feasibility of conducting a randomised controlled trial of a cookstove intervention in rural Malawi.'. International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Vol 18, Issue 2, pp. 240-247.

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Abstract

BACKGROUND

Exposure to household air pollution (HAP) causes 4 million deaths annually, and strategies to reduce HAP exposure are urgently required.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the acceptability and feasibility of conducting a trial of a cookstove intervention in rural Malawi.

DESIGN

Non-smoking women were randomised to continuing to use an open fire (control) or to using a wood-burning clay cookstove (intervention). Symptom burden, oxygen saturation and exhaled carbon monoxide (eCO) were assessed at baseline and 7-day follow-up. A subset of women underwent HAP exposure monitoring.

RESULTS

Of 51 women recruited, 50 (98%) completed the main study. The methodology was acceptable to participants. Headache, back pain and cough were the most commonly reported symptoms at baseline and follow-up. Median eCO was within normal limits, but with a difference of 0.5 parts per million (ppm) in median change of eCO from baseline to follow-up seen between the two groups (P = 0.035). The peak ambient CO concentration detected was 150 ppm.

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that a large cookstove intervention trial in Malawi would be feasible with careful community sensitisation. Monitoring exposure to HAP is challenging, and further studies evaluating potential biomarkers of exposure, including eCO, should be undertaken.

Item Type: Article
Subjects: WA Public Health > WA 30 Socioeconomic factors in public health (General)
WA Public Health > Health Problems of Special Population Groups > WA 395 Health in developing countries
WF Respiratory System > WF 140 Diseases of the respiratory system (General)
Faculty: Department: Clinical Sciences & International Health > Clinical Sciences Department
Digital Object Identifer (DOI): https://doi.org/10.5588/ijtld.13.0485
Depositing User: Julie Franco
Date Deposited: 20 Aug 2014 13:12
Last Modified: 07 Oct 2019 08:24
URI: https://archive.lstmed.ac.uk/id/eprint/3859

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