Household air pollution research and policy: a worked example

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: 1) To describe the importance of scientific evidence in policy development in the area of household air pollution 2) To present a framework on designing evidence based interventions and policy on exposure reduction related to household air pollution The future of policy development in the area of household air pollution (HAP) depends on credible scientific data that documents the health risks associated with HAP. In most instances, it is necessary to base decisions on the evidence generated elsewhere and to make inferences about the extent to which this evidence is generalizable to another location or country. The ways in which elements of the structural, physical, social and/or cultural environmental factors can influence HAP and how these factors may influence the effectiveness of interventions to reduce HAP exposure are discussed. A framework to be used by public health professionals who are designing, executing, reporting and synthesizing research on HAP, designing and implementing interventions for HAP exposure reduction or formulating policy is suggested.