Drivers of the Adoption and Exclusive Use of Clean Fuel for Cooking in Sub-Saharan Africa: Learnings and Policy Considerations from Cameroon

Alison Pye, Sara Ronzi, Bertrand Hugo Mbatchou Ngahane, Elisa Puzzolo, Atongno Humphrey Ashu and Daniel Pope
Additional contact information
Alison Pye: Public Health England North West, Preston PR1 0LD, UK
Sara Ronzi: Department of Public Health and Policy and Systems, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GB, UK
Bertrand Hugo Mbatchou Ngahane: Douala General Hospital, Douala 3554, Cameroon
Elisa Puzzolo: Department of Public Health and Policy and Systems, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GB, UK
Atongno Humphrey Ashu: Douala General Hospital, Douala 3554, Cameroon
Daniel Pope: Department of Public Health and Policy and Systems, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GB, UK

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 16, 1-24

Abstract: Household air pollution (HAP) caused by the combustion of solid fuels for cooking and heating is responsible for almost 5% of the global burden of disease. In response, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has recommended the urgent need to scale the adoption of clean fuels, such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). To understand the drivers of the adoption and exclusive use of LPG for cooking, we analysed representative survey data from 3343 peri-urban and rural households in Southwest Cameroon. Surveys used standardised tools to collect information on fuel use, socio-demographic and household characteristics and use of LPG for clean cooking. Most households reported LPG to be clean (95%) and efficient (88%), but many also perceived it to be expensive (69%) and unsafe (64%). Positive perceptions about LPG’s safety (OR = 2.49, 95% CI = 2.04, 3.05), cooking speed (OR = 4.31, 95% CI = 2.62, 7.10), affordability (OR = 1.7, 95% CI = 1.38, 2.09), availability (OR = 2.17, 95% CI = 1.72, 2.73), and its ability to cook most dishes (OR = 3.79, 95% CI = 2.87, 5.01), were significantly associated with exclusive LPG use. Socio-economic status (higher education) and household wealth (higher income) were also associated with a greater likelihood of LPG adoption. Effective strategies to raise awareness around safe use of LPG and interventions to address financial barriers are needed to scale wider adoption and sustained use of LPG for clean cooking, displacing reliance on polluting solid fuels.

Keywords: household air pollution; clean cooking; clean fuel; LPG; Cameroon; Sub-Saharan Africa (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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