A System Dynamics Approach to Understand Respiratory Health Risk in Rural Population Tigala Snehlata1, Sharma Anu Rani2, Sachdeva Kamna3,* 1PhD Scholar, Department of Natural Resources, TERI School of Advanced Studies, New Delhi, India 2Assistant Professor, Department of Natural Resources, TERI School of Advanced Studies, New Delhi, India 3Associate Professor, Department of Energy and Environment, TERI School of Advanced Studies, New Delhi, India *Corresponding author: Kamna Sachdeva, Associate Professor, Department of Energy and Environment, TERI School of Advanced Studies, 10, Institutional Area, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi, India
Online published on 6 April, 2019. Abstract Indoor air pollution poses innumerable challenges and risks to the health of the exposed population. A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the respiratory health of the rural population belonging to different socioeconomic strata. To estimate the extent of respiratory diseases prevalent in the rural population, factors that link exposure to health were identified and significance of each of these confounding factors on the health of the exposed were determined. A system dynamics approach was used to evaluate environment-user-health system based on the interrelationships that exist between different system variables. Higher odds of occurrence of chest illness were found in biomass users along with low-literacy and low-income groups, which limited their capacity to purchase clean fuel. Also, tobacco smokers were also at a higher risk of developing respiratory disease. The estimates generated from the study can be used to suggest and weight indicators responsible for health vulnerability. Top Keywords Biomass Combustion, Respiratory Health, Health Risk, System Dynamics. Top |