Indoor air pollution
is linked to Acute Lower Respiratory Infection (ALRI) in children
less than five years of age and accounts for a significant proportion
of death and illness in developing countries.
A team from the Medical Research Council (MRC) of
South Africa with support
from the CHANGE project, used formative research to identify behaviors
that could reduce indoor air pollution.
The behaviors were
currently practiced by
some families in the communities.
The study used the TIPS
(Trials of Improved Practices) methodology, a formative research
method that involves asking families to try selected behaviors and
identifying the factors that helped them maintain the positive behaviors
or the barriers to practicing them.
Two of the four behaviors
- changing to less-polluting fuels or repairing or replacing stoves
- are not economically feasible for most low-income families.
However the TIPS showed that two behaviors-
reducing the amount of time young children spent close to a
cooking fire and reducing the burning time of solid fuel are feasible
for 50-60% of families.
>>
Phase I Study: The Identification of Behavioral Intervention Opportunities
to Reduce Child Exposure to Indoor Air Pollution in Rural South Africa
[PDF - 561KB]
>> Phase II Study:
Testing Behaviors To Reduce Child Exposure To Indoor Air Pollution
In Rural South Africa [PDF
- 312KB]
>>
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