Assessing the Respiratory and Eye Effects of Biomass for Healthy Adult Populations in Mogadishu, Somalia

Biomass burning, primarily involving wood and charcoal, is a prevalent source of energy in Mogadishu, Somalia.This study assesses the impact of exposure biomass fuel smoke on Respiratory and Eye symptoms for Healthy Adult Populations in Mogadishu, Somalia.A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted from January to March 2024 with 220 participants.Data were gathered using a structured, pretested questionnaire.Logistic regression analysis, including multivariate logistic regression, was performed to assess the association between independent variables and respiratory symptoms.Key findings include that 37.3% of respondents have respiratory symptoms, while 62.7% did not experience any respiratory symptoms.Additionally, 78 participants (35.5%) experienced eye irritation, whereas 142 participants (64.5%) did not.Wood biomass use significantly increased the risk of respiratory symptoms with an adjusted odds ratio (AOR) of 4.635 (95% CI: 1.663-12.919,p=0.012).Prolonged exposure of 1-2 hours (AOR=0.246,95% CI: 0.101-0.598,p=0.001) and 3-4 hours (AOR=0.114,95% CI: 0.044-0.294)significantly lowered the risk of ARI compared to 5-6 hours.Indoor biomass exposure showed higher odds of respiratory symptoms (AOR=2.201,95% CI: 0.762-6.355),although not statistically significant (p=0.145).The study concludes that biomass burning significantly contributes to health outcomes, underscoring the need for sustainable energy alternatives and health awareness campaigns tailored to local needs.