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Pollution factors affecting health and safety in rural Zimbabwe
[top] [end]BackgroundHouseholds in developing countries are characterised by the use of inefficient and polluting energy sources. The implications of such on the health and safety of family members in rural households is rarely explored with the commitment it deserves.Smith (2002); Cecelski (2005); Mishra (2003) and Charron (2005) are some of the scholars who have written on indoor air pollution. Charron (2005:12) draws attention to the fact that indoor air pollution is now rated by the World Health Organization as the second most dangerous environmental health risk in rural areas (after dirty water and poor sanitation). This article is based on qualitative fieldwork done by the author in rural areas of Zimbabwe from September 2005 to the end of January 2006. The study was done to examine energy consumption patterns in rural Zimbabwe, as part of a project on rural electrification and its impacts. The rationale behind the study was to find out the knowledge, attitude, behaviour and practice of rural people in Zimbabwe with regards to issues of indoor air pollution within the context of energy consumption. This was based upon the reasoning that the way people consume household energy has a bearing on indoor air pollution. Pollution levels were not monitored scientifically. Indoor air pollution in Zimbabwe is an area that is largely ignored and understudied compared to other health risks. Consequently occupants of rural households in Zimbabwe are inhaling large amounts of polluted air in kitchens and bedrooms; far above the recommended WHO levels. The participants of the study were drawn from rural children (aged above 10 years); rural women and men; rural health workers; community leaders, policy makers and workers in the energy; health, environment and development sector. It examined energy consumption patterns in rural Zimbabwe, as part of a project on rural electrification and its impacts. [top] [end]Research designVarious qualitative methods were used in this research:
[top] [end]Indoor air pollution in ZimbabweWhilst the debate on indoor air pollution has been mainly centred on the kitchen, this project work in Zimbabwe has looked also at effects of levels of pollution in the rest of the house.[top] [end]Biomass useBiomass (including agricultural residues) is the principal source of energy used in rural zimbabwe. Biomass is used for cooking, space heating and lighting. According to the CSO (2002:133), the percentage of rural people using biomass as an energy source is 94% although other energy sources such as paraffin, electricity, dung and solar are also used. It was noted that due to fuel wood shortages, the use of dung as an energy source is growing popular, however the use of electricity, paraffin and solar is insignificant because of prohibitive costs.[top] [end]Paraffin usePrior to paraffin (kerosene) shortages, lamps called zvibani were used for lighting using unadulterated paraffin.Whilst these lamps emitted smoke, they were better than the current urvival strategies employed due to the current paraffin scarcity discussed in the following paragraphs.Zimbabwe has serious problems with indoor air pollution because of the unavailability and lack of affordability of paraffin. Paraffin is currently pegged at $Z 200 000.000 a litre (approximately US$1) which is unaffordable for most people. [top] [end]Key factors associated with ill healthSome key factors for continued high levels of ill-health associated with indoor air pollution are highlighted below:Households that cannot afford the list price of paraffin often buy it from unscrupulous dealers: in some instances households buy paraffin that is mixed with water. This further exacerbates the danger of indoor air pollution. Rural households that can no longer afford to buy paraffin have improvised other energy sources for lighting in the evenings. Some now use diesel, oil, rubber tyres in place of paraffin. Worse still, households that cannot afford all the above use burning firewood sticks as a source of light. The options given above pose serious indoor air pollution for rural households in Zimbabwe. [top] [end]House constructionThe type of houses that are normally constructed in rural Zimbabwe worsen the indoor pollution problem. Both kitchens and bedrooms are not well ventilated. Some do not have windows and the small houses are such that smoke gets trapped in the kitchen. In buildings that have windows, the windows are small, V-shaped and less than 30cm in diameter. Sometimes, sacks are stuffed into the small windows further inhibiting the circulation of air. Figure 1 shows an external view of the type of unventilated kitchen normally seen in Zimbabwe.
Cooking in the kitchen is the norm in rural Zimbabwe. People do not cook out doors unless if it is for a very big function and they are using big pots when the heat in the kitchen would be too great. Cooking indoors is cultural; the kitchen is the point focus for all the household members and also for socialisation and relaxing. Other reasons that are given for cooking in the kitchen include: the smoke protecting the thatch; smoke deters cockroaches, insects and rats: smoke preserves food: and cooking is a private affair and the kitchen provides such privacy. [top] [end]HIV/AIDS confining people to the homeWith the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Zimbabwe, home based care activities are now very common in rural households, exposing the patients to indoor air pollution that exacerbates their medical conditions.[top] [end]Lack of knowledge on the dangers of indoor air pollutionAre rural people aware of the effects of indoor air pollution and do they take them seriously? It is saddening to note that many of those people who suffer from symptoms of respiratory infections do not seek medical attention. This is because such symptoms are considered to be normal and are not taken seriously in the community. This study found the following:
[top] [end]Are messages reaching the grassroots?It can be argued that years after the dangers associated with indoor air pollution emerged, the language of indoor air pollution is still circulating among researchers, professionals and academics. The message has not yet reached the intended beneficiaries; hence they continue to suffer from indoor air pollution without recognising its dangers. People cannot act unless they have knowledge. Hence if rural dwellers do not know about indoor air pollution and its dangers, they do not have an incentive to reduce or to come up with strategies that reduce it.Indoor air pollution is not accorded in terms of danger, the same position as that given to malaria, cholera or tuberculosis just to mention a few. People do all they can to prevent and seek attention for the latter health conditions but not for those caused by indoor air pollution. The failure to take indoor air pollution as a serious health threat is largely a problem of policy at national level rather than at household level. Indoor air pollution has not been taken seriously as a public health issue in Zimbabwe and as a result people in rural areas do not also consider it as such. [top] [end]Campaigning at grassroots levelRaising awareness on indoor air pollution remains one of the most pragmatic ways that can work effectively in preventing and mitigating the effects of indoor air pollution in Zimbabwe. Effective methods include:
[top] [end]Recommendations
[top] [end]References
[top] [end]Download the original article Pollution factors affecting health and safety in rural Zimbabwe by Davidzo Muchawaya (229 KB)[top] [end]Contents: Boiling Point 52 - Health, safety and household energy
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Page created:
26 June 2007; Last edited:
02 July 2007; Version: 4 | |||||||||||
Pagename: PollutionFactorsAffectingHealthAndSafetyInRuralZimbabwe @HEDON: VBFA | |||||||||||
