Liquefied Petroleum Gas or Biomass for Cooking and Effects on Birth Weight

This randomized controlled trial investigated whether replacing biomass cookstoves with liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cookstoves during pregnancy would improve infant birth weight in low and middle income countries. Conducted across Guatemala, India, Peru, and Rwanda, the study involved 3,200 pregnant women assigned to either LPG cookstoves (intervention) or continued biomass use (control). Despite significant reductions in household air pollution (median PM${}_{2.5}$ exposure: 23.9 μg/m³ intervention vs. 70.7 μg/m³ control), no significant difference in mean birth weight was observed (adjusted mean difference: 19.6 g, 95% CI: −10.1 to 49.2). Secondary outcomes, including preterm birth and stillbirth, also showed no significant differences. The findings suggest that LPG interventions alone may not sufficiently address low birth weight in these settings.

This randomized controlled trial investigated whether replacing biomass cookstoves with liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cookstoves during pregnancy would improve infant birth weight in low and middle income countries. Conducted across Guatemala, India, Peru, and Rwanda, the study involved 3,200 pregnant women assigned to either LPG cookstoves (intervention) or continued biomass use (control). Despite significant reductions in household air pollution (median PM${}_{2.5}$ exposure: 23.9 μg/m³ intervention vs. 70.7 μg/m³ control), no significant difference in mean birth weight was observed (adjusted mean difference: 19.6 g, 95% CI: −10.1 to 49.2). Secondary outcomes, including preterm birth and stillbirth, also showed no significant differences. The findings suggest that LPG interventions alone may not sufficiently address low birth weight in these settings.