Table 1

Baseline characteristics for intervention (Plancha) and control (open fire) groups.


PLANCHA
OPEN FIRE

Number of women
89
91
Characteristics of the women:


Mean age in years (SD)
27.6 (7.7)
28.3 (6.7)
Not attended to school (%)
32 (36.0)
36 (39.6)
Pregnant at baseline
62 (69.7)
62 (68.1)
Mean number of children < 12 years (SD)
3.7 (1.9)
3.8 (1.5)
Smokes (%)
0 (0.0)
0 (0.0)
Cough while cooking (%)a
59 (66.3)
61 (67.0)
Headache while cooking (%)b
64 (71.9)
71 (78.0)
Sore eyes while cooking (%)c
78 (87.6)
78 (85.7)
Back pain while cooking (%) d
54 (60.7)
60 (65.9)
Household characteristics:


Wood as main fuel (%)
89 (100)
91 (100)
Cooking area in a separate structure (%)
67 (75.3)
68 (85.0)
Relative smokes inside (%)
17 (19.1)
22 (24.2)
Mean number cigarettes husband (SD)
1.2 (0.4)
1.1 (0.2)
Kitchen separate from bedroom (%)
70 (78.7)
79 (86.8)
Asset indexε:


     0
8 (9.0)
15 (16.5)
     1
47 (52.8)
50 (54.9)
     2
23 (25.8)
18 (19.8)
     3
9 (10.1)
8 (8.8)
     > = 4
2 (2.2)
0 (0.0)

a When you are cooking, does the smoke make you cough or irritate your throat? (yes = sometimes/always)

b When you are cooking or immediately after, do you get a headache? (yes = sometimes/always)

c When you are cooking, do your eyes get irritated? (yes = sometimes/always)

d When you are cooking, do you get back pain? (yes = sometimes/always)

e Sum of goods (radio, TV, refrigerator, bicycle, motorcycle and car) a family has. From 0 for not having any of them, to 6 for having all of them

Díaz et al. BMC International Health and Human Rights 2008 8:7   doi:10.1186/1472-698X-8-7