Knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards indoor air pollution among households in Katanga, Kawempe Division, Kampala City, Kampala District

Abstract

Indoor air pollution is the world’s largest single environmental health risk. Globally, about 3.2 million deaths annually are attributed to indoor air pollution (WHO, 2022), and an estimated 94% of households in Uganda use biomass fuels for cooking (Ogwok et al., 2022). This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards indoor air pollution amongst households in Katanga to elucidate the evolving scope of research on air pollution in addition to the possibility of triggering behavioral change. The main objective of the study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards indoor air pollution among households in Katanga, Kawempe Division, Kampala City, Kampala District. This was a cross-sectional study conducted in Katanga slum. It utilized quantitative data collection methods. Katanga slum was selected purposively because of poor housing, and over-reliance on solid fuels. The study population comprised of residents in Katanga, the study units were households in Katanga and the respondents were the household heads both males and females aged 18 years and above. A sample size of 96 respondents was required. The respondents were selected by consecutive sampling where every household meeting the inclusion criteria was selected until the required sample size was obtained. Data was collected using face-to-face interviewer-administered questionnaires. Collected quantitative data was edited, coded, entered, and cleaned in the computer using EPI DATA version 3.1. Data analysis was carried out using Stata MP 14. Descriptive statistics were generated in the form of frequencies and proportions (percentages). These were presented in Frequency tables, Graphs, and Pie charts. The majority of the respondents 66.7% (64/96) had not heard about indoor air pollution and many of the respondents 77.1% (74/96) had experienced illnesses associated with indoor air pollution in the last 30 days before the time of our interview. More than half of the respondents 59.4% (57/96), felt that the air in their homes was polluted whereas 53.6% (51/96) considered indoor air pollution a serious problem requiring immediate attention. Few of the respondents 18.8% (18/96) had kitchens, and charcoal 65.0% (89/137) was the most used cooking fuel. Knowledge of indoor air pollution especially the health effects due to solid fuel smoke and dust among community members was fair whereas the attitudes and practices were poor. There is a need for community sensitization and health education on the sources, health effects, and measures to reduce indoor air pollution by the health workers like health inspectors from KCCA Kawempe Division, VHTs, and clinicians in the community in partnership with the community local leaders such as the councilors. KCCA should encourage the use of cleaner fuels like gas, electricity, briquettes, and eco-stoves by households in Katanga.