Randomised Exposure Study of Pollution Indoors and Respiratory Effects

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this study was to determine whether reduced exposure to indoor air pollution would reduce ALRI incidence in children <18 months of age. Households were randomized to receive a chimney stove (intervention group) or continue using an open fire for cooking and heating (control group).

Detailed Description
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Acute lower respiratory infections (ALRI) are the chief killer of children. Most cases are pneumonia and the majority occur among poor children under five years in developing countries. Poverty might be said to be the primary cause, which manifests as malnutrition, including micro-nutrient deficiencies, and lack of access to medical care. Another attribute of poverty is household indoor air pollution (HAP) from use of unprocessed solid fuels such as biomass (wood, animal dung and crop wastes) and coal in simple stoves. A meta-analysis of published observational studies found that young children exposed to smoke from household solid fuel use had a rate of ALRI twice that of children not exposed or where clean fuels were used. Recent studies have shown similar ALRI risks associated with short-term air pollution measurements and other indicators of exposure.

Official Title
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Particulate Air Pollution Exposure and Childhood Acute Respiratory Infections in Guatemala: A Randomized Intervention

Conditions
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Respiratory Tract Infections, Pneumonia

Intervention / Treatment
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* Device: Plancha


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Households were invited to participate in the study if they met the following inclusion criteria: Used only an open fire for cooking and heating Had a pregnant woman or child < 4 months residing in the home Identified as Mam (the regional ethnic group), and had Minimal summer migration (less than 12 weeks per year) Exclusion Criteria: Households were excluded from participating if: The household was already using a chimney stove for cooking There was no child <4 months of age or a pregnant woman residing in the home Seasonal migration required the family to move to another region for more than 12 weeks of the year

Ages Eligible for Study
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Maximum Age: 18 Months

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| No Intervention: Open fire<br>Households continuing to use an open fire for cooking and heating | |
| Experimental: Chimney stove<br>Households randomized to receive a chimney stove (plancha) for cooking and heating | Device: Plancha<br>* locally developed chimney stove<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| The primary outcome measure was physician-diagnosed pneumonia in children |  | Through 18 months of age | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Severe (hypoxaemic) and RSV pneumonia |  | Through 18 months of age |