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| Author and Title |
Engle, P. L., Hurtado, E., and Ruel, M. (1997) Smoke exposure of women and young children in highland Guatemala: Prediction and recall accuracy. |
| Article in |
Human Organization, 56(4), 408-417. |
| Available online at |
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| End use |
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| Energy technology |
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| Issue |
Indoor Air Pollution Sources: Smoking/Tabacco Smoke, Smoke/Particulates/PM10 or Smaller/Dust, Risk Perception, Women: Exposure, Risk and Health Effects |
| Level |
Research |
| Description |
In order to measure indigenous Guatemalan and young children's exposure to smoke from cooking fires, three techniques were compared: 1) observation; 2) recall 24 hours later based on duration of activities; and 3) recall 24 hours later based on the time each activity started and stopped (elapsed time). To measure recall accuracy, 43 women and their children under two years were observed during meal preparation and consumption, and the next day were asked to recall these activities. Women were reasonably accurate when recalling durations, but recall was significantly less accurate using elapsed times. Recall accuracy increased when two days' measurements were averaged. Women who are most exposed to smoke recognize its damaging effects-on themselevs and on their chidren. However, there are few options available to them to reduce their exposure. The most significant predictors of lower exposure are type of stove, and type of house configuration-factors which women ususallly have little control over. The only behavioral variables that related to lower exposure were absence of a husband, and a culturla patern associated with speaking Spanish rather than monolingual Kiche. Mothers who recognize the potentially damaging effects of the smoke were not able to protect their young children from it. Many cover the child's head with a cloth, but the strongest predictor of child exposure is the child's age, in addition to the characteristics of the mother. Thus the older children can reduce exposure, but the younger children (less than 17 months old) were significantly more likely to be in the kitchen. A type of stove, called Planchas, are readily available in the region, and are being installed in many homes by family members and NGOs. Unlike gas stoves, they are culturally appropriate and highly valued by families. Unfortunately, they are relatively expensive. |
This bibliography item comes from the "Broad-search Annotated Bibliography on Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI) and Indoor Air Pollution (With Emphasis on Children Under Five in Developing Countries)", December 1998, Prepared by Daniel M. Kammen, Gemini Wahhaj, and Maame Yaa Yiadom, under EHP Activity No. 263-CC (with support of USAID). Used with permission.
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