Saudi Journal of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences (SJMPS)
Volume-4 | Issue-07 | 861-870
Original Research Article
Pattern of Household Cooking Fuel Use and Knowledge of It Effect on Health among Health Workers in a Tertiary Hospital in South-South Nigeria
Ekanem AM, Motilewa OO, Ekanem US, Ekpenyong AO, Eburuaja RA, Inyang JN, Essien EE, Ndiwe-Ogu MC, Jumbo UB, Ekpe NJ, Umoinwek EN, Okechi LN
Published : July 30, 2018
Abstract
Household air pollution (HAP) arising from use of high polluting cooking fuel use remains a global health threat .This study sought to determine the major type of household cooking fuel used by workers ,their level of knowledge of the health effects of use of various categories of house hold cooking fuel, the association between level of knowledge and category of cooking fuel used and the determinants of category of cooking fuel used by respondents A questionnaire based descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among 352 staff of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Nigeria selected by multi-stage sampling technique between July and October,2017. Data was analyzed with STATA version 10. The major cooking fuel used was liquefied petroleum gas, LPG 221(62.8%). A good proportion 222 (63.1%) also used an alternative cooking fuel with kerosene 88 (37.8%) being the commonest. Main reason for choice of major cooking fuel was convenience 100 (28.4%). Most respondents had good knowledge (70.5%) of the effects of cooking fuel on health. Few knew that cooking fuel is associated with low birth weight 98 (27.8%) and cancer of the lungs174 (49.4%). Categories of staff and level of education were significantly associated with level of knowledge of effect of cooking fuel on health (P<0.001 and P=0.01 respectively) .Determinants of category of cooking fuel used by respondents were level of knowledge (P=0.004), education (P= 0.00), category of staff (P=0.002), place of residence (P=0.008), type of house (P=0.000) and main cooking site (P=0.000).LPG was the major cooking fuel used .Level of knowledge of the health effects of cooking fuel was good though areas of knowledge gap existed .Intensive public enlightenment programs is needed to sustain the awareness and address the knowledge gaps. Government policy of abolishing gas flaring will improve access to clean household cooking fuels and enhance its use.