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

Pye, Alison, Ronzi, Sara ORCID: 0000-0002-6089-9586, Ngahane, Bertrand Hugo Mbatchou, Puzzolo, Elisa ORCID: 0000-0001-9177-5298, Ashu, Atongno Humphrey and Pope, Daniel ORCID: 0000-0003-2694-5478 (2020) Drivers of the Adoption and Exclusive Use of Clean Fuel for Cooking in Sub-Saharan Africa: Learnings and Policy Considerations from Cameroon. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH, 17 (16). E5874-.

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17165874

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.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	household air pollution, clean cooking, clean fuel, LPG, Cameroon, Sub-Saharan Africa
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	01 Oct 2020 09:20
Last Modified:	18 Jan 2023 23:30
DOI:	10.3390/ijerph17165874
Open Access URL:	https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17165874
Related URLs:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3103208