Effect of Reduction in Household Air Pollution on Childhood Pneumonia in Guatemala (RESPIRE): A Randomised Controlled Trial

Replication paper
Original publication: Lancet
Original researchers: Kirk R. Smith, John P. McCracken, Martin W. Weber, Alan Hubbard, Alisa Jenny, Lisa M. Thompson, John Balmes, Anaité Diaz, Byron Arana, Nigel Bruce
Replication researchers: Jan Hattendorf
Current status: Unable to Replicate

The Original Study

Numerous researchers have shown that indoor smoke inhalation, oftentimes from cooking air pollution, to be a significant negative health externality for developing world households (and especially children). This study examines the effects of reduced smoke technology adoption on the incidences of pneumonia in Guatemala through a random-controlled trial. Although the results are somewhat inconclusive, a significant reduction in the cases of severe infant pneumonia suggests the possibility of wood chimney stoves decreasing childhood mortality rates.