AWARENESS ABOUT THE HEALTH IMPACTS OF INDOOR AIR POLLUTION ON RURAL WOMEN IN DISTRICT FAISALABAD

Abstract

Indoor concentrations of pollutants depend on the quantity of emissions, the volume of the polluted space and the rate of exchange between indoor and outdoor air. The principal indoor pollutants vary in rural and urban areas but they are a source of disease everywhere. Women are particularly at risk for a variety of adverse health effects related to indoor air pollution. Middle ear infection, tuberculosis, perinatal mortality (still births and death in the first week of life), low birth weight, eye irritation, cataract, asthma and oral cancer have all been associated with indoor smoke. For this purpose a study was conducted in rural areas of District Faisalabad which aims to assess the awareness/ knowledge about the health impacts of indoor air pollution on rural women. The sampling was consisted on four stages. At the first stage two tehsils were selected randomly from the Faisalabad District. At the second stage two union councils were taken from each tehsil through simple random sample technique. At the third stage two villages, from each union council were selected randomly and at the fourth stage 30 women from each village were taken purposively. The total sample size of women was 240. It was found that that the awareness of people about the adverse implications of the emission of bio-mass on their health particularly women and children who are more exposed to kitchen environment in terms closed and opened kitchen and its location, duration spent for cooking, types of fuel and stove is recommended.