Domestic Energy use and the Prevalence of Respiratory Infections in Ilorin, Nigeria

Abstract

Given their consequences on human health, indoor air pollution generated through domestic en-ergy consumption is more important than outdoor pollution in the third world. The understanding however, of the intricate link between energy and health lags behind that of the linkages between water or waste management and health. The consequences of energy consumption have not been reflected in health care priorities in most countries. Apart from studies that examined the relation-ship between poverty and energy, studies are also scanty in the identification of both area and structural characteristics of urban population in relation to energy use. This study identifies the nature, types and sources of energy used by household; so as to obtain a gradient of the character-istics of energy consumption in cities of developing countries. The sources of data were primary and secondary. Multiple regression analysis was used to determine the relative contributions of household characteristics to the pattern of energy use. The findings revealed that occupation, household size, gender and education of household heads were significantly related to the use of unclean energy in the community. Incidence of cough either in the morning or evening, chest ill-ness and watery or blood shot eyes were due to the combined effects of smoke inhaled and these are common symptoms of persons who use unclean energy. The authors recommend among others that households be encouraged to adopt measures that will reduce exposure to smoke as a means of adaptation.