Indoor Air Pollution-related Acute Lower Respiratory Infections and Low Birthweight: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND: Present study is a systematic review conducted to establish a quantitative association between acute lower respiratory infection (ALRI) and low birthweight (LBW) attributable to Indoor air pollution (IAP) in under-5 children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Total of 24 articles for ALRI in under-5 and seven articles for LBW were included in this review. Meta-analysis was done on nine and six articles on ALRI and LBW children, respectively. RESULTS: Sixteen studies reported significantly elevated odds ratio (range: 1.38-6.0) of ALRI exposed to IAP. Similarly, significantly increased risk of LBW due to IAP was reported in the studies (range: 1.1-1.86). The risk of ALRI increased by 2.51 times, while the risk of LBW increased by 1.45 times due to IAP exposure. CONCLUSIONS: This review of ALRI and LBW attributable by IAP confirms and strengthens the findings of previous reviews and provides further strong evidence of associations of ALRI and LBW with IAP.