Assessing the Prevalence of Smoke Exposure Risk (SER) Emanating from Household Cooking Practices in North-Western States of Nigeria

Abstract

Smoke exposure risk (SER) is a significant public health concern in North-Western Nigeria, where the use of biomass fuels for cooking remains widespread. These traditional fuels contribute to indoor air pollution, posing serious health risks, particularly for women and children. This study assesses the prevalence of SER and identifies the sociodemographic factors associated with SER in the north-western region , using data from the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS). A cross-sectional analysis was conducted on 9,506 households from the seven states of North-Western Nigeria. SER was classified based on the type of cooking fuel used and the location of cooking. Descriptive statistics were used to determine the prevalence of SER, and chi-square tests were employed to explore the relationships between SER and household characteristics, including household size, age, education level of the household head, wealth status, and residence. The analysis revealed that 68.24% of households were categorized as having medium SER, while 27.48% were classified under high SER. Significant associations were found between high SER and larger household size (p < 0.001), lower educational attainment (p < 0.001), poorer wealth status (p < 0.001), and rural residence (p < 0.001). State-level variations in SER were also observed, with Sokoto and Kano having the highest levels of exposure. This study underscores the urgent need for targeted interventions to reduce SER, particularly in rural and economically disadvantaged households in North-Western Nigeria, by increasing access to clean cooking technologies and enhancing public awareness.