Household Air Pollution and Health: A Multi-country LPG Intervention Trial (HAPIN)
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02944682 |
Recruitment Status :
Active, not recruiting
First Posted : October 26, 2016
Last Update Posted : October 31, 2022
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Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
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Infant, Low Birth Weight | Other: Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cookstove | Not Applicable |
Globally, nearly 3 billion people rely on solid fuels for cooking and heating, the vast majority in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The resulting household air pollution (HAP) is the third leading risk factor in the 2010 global burden of disease, accounting for an estimated 4.3 million deaths annually, largely among women and young children. Previous interventions have provided cleaner biomass-based cookstoves, but have failed to reduce exposure to levels that produce meaningful health improvements. There have been no large-scale field trials with liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cookstoves, likely the cleanest scalable intervention.
The aim of this study is to conduct a randomized controlled trial of LPG stove and fuel distribution in 3,200 households in four LMICs (India, Guatemala, Peru, and Rwanda) to deliver rigorous evidence regarding potential health benefits across the lifespan. Each intervention site will recruit 800 pregnant women (aged 18-34 years, 9 - <20 weeks gestation), and will randomly assign half their households to receive LPG stoves and an 18-month supply of LPG. Control households are anticipated to continue to cook primarily with solid biomass fuels, and will receive compensation based on a uniform set of trial-wide principles, customized to each site based on formative research. The mother will be followed along with her child until the child is 1 year old. In households with a second, non-pregnant older adult woman (aged 40 to <80 years) the researchers will also enroll and follow her during the 18-month follow-up period in order to assess cardiopulmonary, metabolic, and cancer outcomes. To optimize intervention use, the researchers will implement behavior change strategies. This study will assess cookstove use, conduct repeated personal exposure assessments to HAP (PM2.5, black carbon, carbon monoxide), and collect dried blood spots and urinary samples for biomarker analysis and biospecimen storage on all participants at multiple time points. The primary outcomes are low birth weight, severe pneumonia incidence, and stunting of the child, and blood pressure in the older adult woman. Secondary outcomes include preterm birth and development in the child, maternal blood pressure during pregnancy, and endothelial function, respiratory impairment, atherosclerosis, carcinogenic metabolites, and quality of life in the older adult woman.
This study will address the following specific aims: (1) using an intent-to-treat analysis, determine the effect of a randomized LPG stove and fuel intervention on health in four diverse LMIC populations using a common protocol; (2) determine the exposure-response relationships for HAP and health outcomes; and (3) determine relationships between LPG intervention and both targeted and exploratory biomarkers of exposure/health effects.
This study will provide evidence, including costs and implementation strategies, to inform national and global policies on scaling up LPG stoves among vulnerable populations. Ultimately, this will facilitate deeper policy-level discussions as well as identify requirements for initiating and sustaining HAP interventions globally.
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 3640 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Parallel Assignment |
Masking: | None (Open Label) |
Primary Purpose: | Prevention |
Official Title: | Household Air Pollution and Health: A Multi-country LPG Intervention Trial |
Actual Study Start Date : | September 1, 2017 |
Estimated Primary Completion Date : | June 30, 2023 |
Estimated Study Completion Date : | June 30, 2023 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
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Experimental: Liquefied petroleum gas cookstove
Participants randomized to the experimental arm will receive a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cookstove and 18-month supply of LPG.
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Other: Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cookstove
The intervention consists of a high-quality locally-available liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) stove having at least two burners, a continuous supply of LPG fuel for 18 months, and the promotion of stove use on an exclusive basis for cooking. The intervention will be provided free of charge to all intervention households upon enrollment. On a weekly basis, study staff will examine stove condition, perform any repairs necessary, and measure and record weight of LPG tanks in order to anticipate need for refills. |
No Intervention: Control
Participants in the control group will not receive a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) stove and will continue using traditional cooking methods (open fire or traditional stoves), or the cooking method of their choice. Control households will receive compensation based on a uniform set of trial-wide principles, customized to each site based on formative research.
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- Birth weight [ Time Frame: Up to 5 months (within 24 hours of birth, 3-5 months post randomization) ]Birth weight will be assessed by a trained nurse or health worker within 24 hours of birth. Infants will be weighed naked or in a pre-weighed blanket. Weight will be measured to the nearest 10 g using a digital electronic scale, if performed by the study field staff; otherwise, hospital medical records will be used.
- Incidence of HAPIN Severe Pneumonia [ Time Frame: Up to 12 months after birth ]The number of times a child has severe pneumonia over their period of follow-up during the first year of life will be assessed. HAPIN pneumonia criteria are adapted from the WHO classification of childhood pneumonia (2014) and there are 3 algorithms for HAPIN case criteria: 1) the presence of cough and/or difficult breathing and at least 1 general danger sign plus evidence of pneumonia on lung imaging (i.e., lung ultrasound or chest x-ray), or 2) the presence of cough and/or difficult breathing and hypoxemia (measured either via pulse oximetry (SpO2), or observing a child requiring advanced respiratory support (i.e., intubation and mechanical ventilation, non-invasive ventilation with continuous or bi-level positive airway pressure support, or high-flow nasal cannula oxygen), or 3) children who die prior to evaluation but their death is attributed to pneumonia by verbal autopsy.
- Length-for-age z-score 2 standard deviations below the standard [ Time Frame: 12 months after birth ]The primary outcome measured is stunting at one year of age, defined as a length-for-age z-score (LAZ) that is 2 standard deviations below the median of the growth standard. Infant length will be assessed at birth and quarterly thereafter, until the child is 12 months old. Z-scores will be calculated using the 2006 World Health Organization (WHO) Multi-Growth Reference Standard (MGRS).
- Systolic blood pressure [ Time Frame: Up to 18 months ]Systolic blood pressure will be assessed in the older adult women in the intervention and control arms using automatic sphygmomanometers (Omron HEM-907XL; Osaka, Japan). The study team will use the procedures adapted from previously validated methods and cardiovascular outcome studies, following recommendations for the American Heart Association and the European Society of Hypertension.
- Maternal blood pressure [ Time Frame: Up to 5 months, 24 months after birth, 36 months after birth ]Blood pressure will be assessed in the pregnant women in the intervention and control arms using automatic sphygmomanometers (OMRON HEM-907XL; Osaka, Japan). After delivery, blood pressure will be measured in the new mothers when the child is 24 and 36 months old. The study team will use the procedures adapted from previously validated methods and cardiovascular outcome studies, following recommendations for the American Heart Association and the European Society of Hypertension.
- Differences in fetal growth outcomes between intervention and control [ Time Frame: Baseline, Gestation Week 24-28 and Gestation Week 32-36 ]Pregnant women will have ultrasounds at Baseline and during gestation weeks 24-28 and gestation weeks 32-36 to measure fetal growth outcomes. Specifically, we will evaluate head circumference (HC), abdominal circumference (AC), femur length (FL) and estimated fetal weight (EFW) during gestation. We will compare (i) z-scores of individual fetal growth measurements (HC, AC, FL, EFW) at the 2 growth ultrasound visits between intervention and control participants (separately at 24-28 wks gestation and 32-36 wks gestation); (ii) differences in proportions of the 2.5th percentiles of each of these measurements evaluated separately at 24-28 and 32-36 weeks gestation; (iii) Z-score trajectories of HC, AC, FL and EFW as a function of gestational age and intervention; and (iv) prevalence of SGA during the fetal period through birth as measured by WHO INTERGROWTH 21st standards.
- Preterm birth [ Time Frame: Up to 5 months (within 24 hours of birth, 3-5 months post randomization) ]Preterm birth is defined as delivery of a living infant prior to 37 completed weeks of gestation.
- Gestational age at birth [ Time Frame: Birth ]In weeks, as continuous outcome, among all live births.
- Change in child development [ Time Frame: 3 months of age to 24 months of age ]Child development will be assessed with the Caregiver Reported Early Childhood Development Instrument (CREDI). The CREDI is a population-level measure of early childhood development (ECD) for children from 0-2 years of age. The CREDI assesses 5 domains of child development: 1) motor development (fine and gross motor), 2) language development (expressive and receptive language), 3) cognitive development (executive function, problem solving and reasoning, and pre-academic knowledge), 4) socio-emotional development (emotional and behavioral self-regulation, emotional knowledge, and social competence), and 5) mental health (internalizing and externalizing behaviors). The CREDI long form has 117 items and the number of questions answered depends on the age of the child. Responses of "yes" are coded as 1 and "no" is coded as 0; certain items are reverse coded. Total raw scores increase by age (with developmental progression), and higher scores indicate increased development.
- Brachial artery reactivity testing (BART) [ Time Frame: 18 months ]Brachial artery reactivity testing (BART) measures endothelial function via flow-mediated dilatation to reactive hyperemia following the release of arm blood-flow occlusion. In this test, baseline artery diameter is measured, then a blood pressure cuff is inflated to induce distal arm ischemia for 5 minutes and after releasing the pressure, the post-occlusion brachial artery diameter is measured. The ratio of post- to pre-occlusion artery diameter represents endothelial function where lower values indicate worse endothelial function. (Peru only)
- Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) [ Time Frame: 18 months ]The carotid intima-media thickness test (CIMT) is used to determine the extent of carotid atherosclerotic vascular disease. The test measures the thickness of the inner two layers of the carotid artery and can detect plaque build up prior to physical symptoms being experienced. The carotid ultrasound will be performed with a portable ultrasound by trained sonographers.
- Adult respiratory health and well-being [ Time Frame: 18 months ]Adult respiratory health and well-being will be assessed with the St. George Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). The SGRQ measures impaired health and perceived well-being among individuals with chronic airway disease. The SGRQ has sections assessing symptoms, activities that cause breathlessness or are limited because of breathlessness, and the impacts of respiratory problems on employment, sense of control of health, panic, stigmatization, medication use, side effects of therapies, expectations for health and disturbances of daily life. The questionnaire includes multiple choice, true/false and open-ended questions.
- Adult Quality of Life: Short Form 36 survey and EuroQOL-5D survey [ Time Frame: 18 months ]The Short Form 36 survey (SF-36) is a standardized, preference-based 36 item questionnaire evaluating quality of life. The survey has 8 sections (vitality, physical functioning, bodily pain, general health perceptions, physical role functioning, emotional role functioning, social role functioning, and mental health). Possible scores range from 0 (lowest QOL) to 100 (highest QOL). The EuroQOL-5D is a standardized, preference-based, 5 item form evaluating quality of life. The survey uses a descriptive system encompassing the following dimensions: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression. Scores range from 0 (lowest QOL) to 100 (highest QOL).
- WHO severe pneumonia [ Time Frame: Up to 12 months after birth ]Cumulative incidence of WHO severe pneumonia (2014 definition and 2013 definition) during the first year of life.
- WHO non-severe pneumonia [ Time Frame: Up to 12 months after birth ]Cumulative incidence of WHO non-severe pneumonia (2014 definition and 2013 definition) during the first year of life.
- Hospitalization for respiratory illness [ Time Frame: Up to 12 months after birth ]Cumulative incidence of hospitalizations for a respiratory illness during the first year of life.
- Diastolic blood pressure [ Time Frame: Up to 18 months ]Diastolic blood pressure will be assessed in the older adult women in the intervention and control arms using automatic sphygmomanometers (Omron HEM-907XL; Osaka, Japan). The study team will use the procedures adapted from previously validated methods and cardiovascular outcome studies, following recommendations for the American Heart Association and the European Society of Hypertension.
- Mean arterial pressure [ Time Frame: Up to 18 months ]Mean arterial pressure will be assessed in the older adult women in the intervention and control arms using automatic sphygmomanometers (Omron HEM-907XL; Osaka, Japan). Mean arterial pressure is calculated as DBP+(SBP-DBP)/3, where SBP=systolic blood pressure and DBP=diastolic blood pressure.
- Pulse pressure [ Time Frame: Up to 18 months ]Pulse pressure will be assessed in the older adult women in the intervention and control arms using automatic sphygmomanometers (Omron HEM-907XL; Osaka, Japan). pressure. Pulse pressure is the difference between systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure.
- Change in neuro-development [ Time Frame: 36 months after birth ]The Malawi Developmental Assessment Tool (MDAT) will be used starting at age 3. The MDAT measures gross motor (39 items), fine motor (42 items), language/cognition (40 items) & social skills (36 items). It is a continuous test with start & stop rules. Most items are administered directly to the child; however, those that are not easily observed (e.g., child speaks in full sentences are administered by parent report. Children receive either a pass or fail for each item, & summed pass scores can produce a composite score as well as domain-specific scores.
- Change in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure [ Time Frame: Up to 12 months after delivery; 24 and 36 months of age ]Personal monitoring equipment will be used to assess exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) over a 24-hour period in intervention and control participants (pregnant women, older adult women, and children). Exposure for pregnant women will be measured at baseline, 24-28 weeks gestation, 32-36 weeks gestation, and 24 months after delivery. Exposure in the child will be measured up to 12 months after delivery, and at 24 and 36 months of age. Exposure in the older adult women will be measured up to 12 months, and at 24 months, after delivery. Additionally, PM2.5 in the home will be measured 6 months, 12 months and 24 months after delivery of the child.
- Carbon monoxide (CO) exposure [ Time Frame: Up to 12 months after delivery; 24 and 36 months of age ]Personal monitoring equipment will be used to assess exposure to carbon monoxide (CO) over a 24-hour period in intervention and control participants (pregnant women, older adult women, and children). Exposure for pregnant women will be measured at baseline, 24-28 weeks gestation, 32-36 weeks gestation, and 24 months after delivery. Children will be measured up to 12 months after delivery, and at 24 and 36 months of age. Older adult women will be measured up to 12 months after delivery, and at 24 months after delivery. Additionally, CO in the home will be measured 6 months, 12 months and 24 months after delivery of the child.
- Black carbon (BC) exposure [ Time Frame: Up to 12 months after delivery; 24 and 36 months of age ]Personal monitoring equipment will be used to assess exposure to black carbon (BC) over a 24-hour period in intervention and control participants (pregnant women, older adult women, and children). Exposure for pregnant women will be measured at baseline, 24-28 weeks gestation, 32-36 weeks gestation, and 24 months after delivery. Children will be measured up to 12 months after delivery, and at 24 and 36 months of age. Older adult women will be measured up to 12 months after delivery, and at 24 months after delivery. Additionally, BC in the home will be measured 6 months, 12 months and 24 months after delivery of the child.
- Family Care Indicators (FCI) [ Time Frame: 3 months to 12 months of age ]The FCI is a 10-item questionnaire developed by UNICEF that gauges caregiver-child interaction and play materials in global and low resource settings. The FCI asks if anyone over the age of 12-years in the home engaged with the child by reading or looking at books, telling stories, singing songs, taking the child outside of home, playing and drawing in the past 3 days. This was analyzed as a FCI subscale, "play scale" (0-6). The FCI questionnaire also asks about sources of play materials (presence of books, homemade toys or owning factory-made toys). This was also analyzed as a separate subscale, "toys scale" (0-3). Test-retest reliability of the FCI was moderate to excellent for most items, and the rates of agreement were consistently high during instrument development (Altafim, 2020).
- Maternal Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) [ Time Frame: 3 months to 12 months of age ]The 10-item Cohen's Perceived Stress Scale (PPS) assesses the way an individual appraises their life events as stressful (e.g., "In the last month, how often have you felt difficulties were piling up so high that you could not overcome them?") (Cohen, 1983). Likert-level responses ranged from 0 (never) to 4 (very often), meaning a high PPS score would result in a high level of perceived stress. A Spanish language PPS created and tested and found to be valid and reliable (Vallijo et al., 2018).
- Maternal death [ Time Frame: Pregnancy through 42 days post-partum ]Death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy irrespective of the duration and site of the pregnancy.
- Spontaneous abortion [ Time Frame: Baseline through 20 weeks gestation ]Fetal death before 19 weeks 6 days.
- Early preterm birth [ Time Frame: Birth ]Births at less than 34 weeks completed gestation, among all live births.
- Preterm delivery [ Time Frame: Birth ]Including preterm birth and stillbirth
- Stillbirth [ Time Frame: Up to birth ]Any fetal deaths occurring at or after 20 weeks' gestation OR indicated on Serious Adverse Event form OR on Pregnant Woman Medical History form OR on verbal autopsy form.
- Neonatal death [ Time Frame: Birth through 28 days ]Death between birth and 28 days.

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years to 79 Years (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria for Pregnant Women:
- Confirmed pregnancy (hCG positive blood or urine test)
- Aged 18 to <35 years (via self-report)
- Uses biomass stove predominantly
- Lives in study area
- 9 - <20 weeks gestation confirmed by ultrasound
- Singleton pregnancy (one fetus)
- Viable fetus with normal fetal heart rate (120-180 beats per minute) at time of ultrasound
- Continued pregnancy at the time of randomization confirmed by self-report
- Agrees to participate with informed consent
Exclusion Criteria for Pregnant Women:
- Currently smokes cigarettes or other tobacco products
- Plans to move permanently outside study area in the next 12 months
- Uses LPG stove predominantly, or is likely to use LPG predominantly in the near future
Inclusion Criteria for Older Adult Woman in the Same Household:
- Aged 40 to <80 years (via self-report)
Exclusion Criteria for Older Adult Woman in the Same Household:
- Currently smokes cigarettes or other tobacco products
- Pregnant (by self-report)
- Plans to move out of her current household in the next 12 months

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT02944682
Guatemala | |
Universidad del Valle de Guatemala | |
Guatemala, Guatemala, 01015 | |
India | |
Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research | |
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, 600116 | |
Peru | |
Puno Global Non-Communicable Disease Research Site, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University | |
Puno, Peru | |
Rwanda | |
Rwanda Research Site, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine | |
Kigali, Rwanda |
Principal Investigator: | Thomas Clasen, PhD | Emory University | |
Principal Investigator: | Jennifer Peel, PhD | Colorado State University | |
Principal Investigator: | William Checkley, MD PhD | Johns Hopkins School of Medicine |
Documents provided by Thomas Clasen, Emory University:
Responsible Party: | Thomas Clasen, Professor, Emory University |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT02944682 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
IRB00089799 1UM1HL134590-01 ( U.S. NIH Grant/Contract ) |
First Posted: | October 26, 2016 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | October 31, 2022 |
Last Verified: | October 2022 |
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement: | |
Plan to Share IPD: | No |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: | No |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: | No |
Obstetrics Pregnancy Outcomes Pediatrics Atherosclerosis |
Cancer Cardiovascular Disease Public Health Environmental Air Pollutants |
Birth Weight Body Weight |