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Pollution; ExposureNCT03351504

Solar Lighting to Reduce Indoor Air Pollution in Rural Uganda

A study testing Solar lighting system in people with Pollution; Exposure and Hypertension, run by Massachusetts General Hospital at 2 sites in 2 countries.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

This study evaluates the impact of a solar lighting system on kerosene lamp use, levels of indoor air pollution, and health in women living in rural Uganda. Half of the participants will receive the lighting systems immediately, while the other half will receive them after an 18 month delay. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 65 years, women onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
What is being tested?
Solar lighting system
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
80 participants
Where
2 sitesin 2 countries
Study dates
7 Feb 2018to 31 Oct 2020
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 65 years
  • Women only
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Women living in Nyakabare Parish, Uganda with no prior history of chronic lung disease

Who cannot join

  • Current active tuberculosis in any family member

Trial locations and contacts

2 sites in 2 countries.

2 sites in 2 countries

United States1 site

  • Massachusetts General Hospital

    Boston, Massachusetts, 02114

Other trials in United States

Uganda1 site

  • Mbarara University of Science and Technology

    Mbarara

Other trials in Uganda

About this study

Official title: Solar Lighting Intervention Trial to Reduce Indoor Air Pollution and Improve Adult Respiratory Health in Rural Uganda

This study evaluates the impact of a solar lighting system on kerosene lamp use, levels of indoor air pollution, and health in women living in rural Uganda. Half of the participants will receive the lighting systems immediately, while the other half will receive them after an 18 month delay.

Read the detailed description

One fifth of the global population relies on kerosene lamps for lighting, yet few studies have focused on kerosene lighting as a source of indoor air pollution. In our preliminary studies performed in Uganda, we show that homes using solar lighting have much lower levels of indoor air pollution compared to homes using kerosene lighting. The primary goal of this study is to determine the extent to which solar lighting will reduce kerosene use and indoor air pollution in rural Uganda, whether this intervention improves lung health, and to identify the role bacteria in our gut have on determining whether or not people will get sick from indoor air pollution.

Being tested
Solar lighting system
Keywords
household air pollution, fine particulate matter, kerosene
Medical subject headings
Hypertension

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Solar lighting systemOther

    consisting of a solar panel, rechargeable lead acid battery, charge controller, wiring and switches to 4 lighting points fitted with LED bulbs. This system will include a two-year service warranty.

Study groups in NCT03351504
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Control (usual lighting)No interventionParticipants will continue to use their usual lighting sources.
Intervention (solar lighting)ExperimentalParticipants will receive an indoor solar lighting system
Receives: Other: Solar lighting system

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and Black Carbon

    Sampling for PM2.5 and Black Carbon over 48 hours will be collected

    Measured: 48 hour

Secondary outcomes (7)

  1. Daily use of solar lighting system (hours per day)

    A current monitory is installed as part of the solar lighting system that measures the hours per day each light switch is turned on

    Measured: baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months after the intervention

  2. Blood pressure

    Resting blood pressure

    Measured: baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months after the intervention

  3. Forced Expiratory Volume in one Second (FEV1)

    Pre- and Post- bronchodilator spirometry

    Measured: baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months after the intervention

  4. Heart rate variability

    Resting 10 minute heart rate variability

    Measured: baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months after the intervention

  5. Stool microbiome

    Microbial sequencing of the stool will be performed

    Measured: baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months after the intervention

  6. Qualitative interviews

    1:1 qualitative interviews will be performed with participants

    Measured: Post-intervention

  7. Respiratory symptoms

    Presence/absence of respiratory symptoms based on the American Thoracic Society Respiratory Disease questionnaire

    Measured: baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months after intervention

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted22 Nov 2017
  2. Study start7 Feb 2018
  3. Primary completion31 Oct 2019
  4. Study completion31 Oct 2020

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Single blind
Who is masked
Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
80 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT03351504
Sponsor's protocol ID
2017P000306/PHS
Status last verified
Dec 2020
First submitted
19 Nov 2017
Last updated
7 Feb 2025
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Huang CY, Nuwagira E, Tisza M, Kim M, Tayebwa M, Vieira J, Lam N, Wallach E, Wiens M, Tsai AC, Valeri L, Vallarino J, Allen JG, Lai PS. Effect of Household Air Pollution on the Gut Microbiome and Virome of Adult Women Living in Uganda. Environ Health Perspect. 2026 Apr 17;134(1):75-90. doi: 10.1021/EHP.6c00064. eCollection 2026 May 5.

    PubMed 42148043

  • Ponticiello M, Nuwagira E, Tayebwa M, Mugerwa J, Nahabwe H, Nakasita C, Tumuhimbise JB, Lam NL, Wiens MO, Vallarino J, Allen JG, Muyanja D, Tsai AC, Sundararajan R, Lai PS. "If you have light, your heart will be at peace": A qualitative study of household lighting and social integration in southwestern Uganda. J Glob Health. 2023 Apr 14;13:04026. doi: 10.7189/jogh.13.04026.

    PubMed 37052216

  • Wallach ES, Lam NL, Nuwagira E, Muyanja D, Tayebwa M, Valeri L, Tsai AC, Vallarino J, Allen JG, Lai PS. Effect of a solar lighting intervention on fuel-based lighting use and exposure to household air pollution in rural Uganda: A randomized controlled trial. Indoor Air. 2022 Feb;32(2):e12986. doi: 10.1111/ina.12986.

    PubMed 35225388

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Solar lighting system in people with Pollution; Exposure and Hypertension, run by Massachusetts General Hospital at 2 sites in 2 countries.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 7 Feb 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 2 sites in United States, Uganda. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and Black Carbon (time frame: 48 hour). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT03351504, which also lists 3 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 7 Feb 2025.

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