Biomass fuel use for household cooking in Swaziland : is there an association with anaemia and stunting in children aged 6–36 months?

Abstract

BACKGROUND : This study is the second to investigate the association between the use of biomass fuels (BMF) for household cooking and anaemia and stunting in children. Such fuels include coal, charcoal, wood, dung and crop residues. METHODS : Data from the 2006–2007 Swaziland Demographic and Health Survey (a cross-sectional study design) were analysed. Childhood stunting was ascertained through age and height, and anaemia through haemoglobin measurement. The association between BMF use and health outcomes was determined in multinomial logistic regression analyses. Various confounders were considered in the analyses. RESULTS : A total of 1150 children aged 6–36 monthswere included in the statistical analyses, of these 596 (51.8%) and 317 (27.6%)were anaemic and stunted, respectively. BMFusewas not significantly associated with childhood anaemia in univariate analysis. Independent risk factors for childhood anaemia were child’s age, history of diarrhoea and mother’s anaemia status. No significant association was observed between BMF use and childhood stunting, after adjusting for child’s gender, age, birth weight and preceding birth interval. CONCLUSION : This study identified the need to prioritize anaemia and stunting as health outcomes and introduction of public health intervention in Swaziland. Further research is needed globallyon the potential effects ofBMFuse on childhood anaemia and stunting.