Nutrition impacts of non-solid cooking fuel adoption on under-five children in developing countries

This paper examines the nutrition impacts of using non-solid cooking fuel on under-five children in developing countries.We draw on data from more than 1.12 million children in 62 developing countries from the Demographic and Health Surveys(DHS).Results from both fixed effects(FE)and instrumental variable(IV)estimates show that using non-solid cooking fuel significantly improves the nutrition outcomes of under-five children.Compared with their peers from households mainly using solid fuel,children from households mainly using non-solid fuel exhibit a lower probability of experiencing stunting(by 5.9 percentage points)and being underweight(by 1.2 percentage points).Our further investigation provides evidence for several underlying mechanisms,such as improved indoor air quality,induced reduction in children’s respiratory symptoms,benefits on maternal health,and reduction in maternal time spent on fuel collection or cooking.Heterogenous analyses suggest that the nutrition benefits of using non-solid cooking fuel are more prominent among boys,children above three years old,and those from households of lower socioeconomic status,rural areas,and Southeast Asia.

Drivers of Fuel Choice for Cooking among Uganda’s Households

This paper examines the factors that Uganda’s households consider when making fuel choices for cooking and investigates the key drivers of fuel choice. The study adopts a quantitative cross sectional research design. The dependent variable of the empirical model is a qualitative response variable which defines three mutually exclusive and highly differentiated discrete choices for cooking fuels, namely: the traditional fuel (firewood), the transitional fuel (charcoal), and the modern (LPG & electricity). Results from the study show that the most important drivers of fuel choice for cooking in Uganda’s households are: household income, age of household head, gender of household head, marital status, education levels of household head and location of a household. Results also reveal high dependency of firewood as cooking energy source among households in Uganda.

Understanding the determinants of household cooking-fuel choice in sub-Saharan Africa:evidence from Nigeria

Overreliance on traditional cooking fuels by agricultural households poses a significant obstacle to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 7 by 2030 in Nigeria.Despite the emerging recognition of remittances as a crucial factor influencing cooking-fuel choices in the energy-transition literature,there is a paucity of studies examining this influence in Nigeria.Using data from 4400 agricultural households sourced from the fourth wave of the Nigerian Living Standard Measurement Survey data sets,this study examined the influence of remittances on cooking-fuel choices,among other factors in Nigeria.Employing descriptive statistics and the multinomial logit regression model,the analysis reveals that traditional cooking fuels,including wood,crop residue and animal dung,continue to dominate the cooking-fuel landscape.The empirical result of the multinomial logit model showed that households that receive remittances are more likely to use modern cooking fuels.Furthermore,wealthier,more educated households with access to electricity are more likely to use modern and transitional cooking fuels than traditional cooking fuels.Based on the findings,the study suggests the incentivization of remittances into the country through the reduction in associated transaction costs and accelerated public infrastructural investment in affordable electricity and good road networks to connect rural areas to gas-supply networks to drive the transition to modern cooking energy.Additionally,educational and awareness campaigns about the health risks associated with traditional cooking energy,particularly indoor air pollution,should be encouraged,especially in rural areas.

Attributable risk and potential impact of interventions to reduce household air pollution associated with under-five mortality in South Asia

Background:Solid fuel use is the major source of household air pollution(HAP)and accounts for a substantial burden of morbidity and mortality in low and middle income countries.To evaluate and compare childhood mortality attributable to HAP in four South Asian countries.Methods:A series of Demographic and Health Survey(DHS)datasets for Bangladesh,India,Nepal and Pakistan were used for analysis.Estimates of relative risk and exposure prevalence relating to use of cooking fuel and under-five mortality were used to calculate population attributable fractions(PAFs)for each country.Potential impact fractions(PIFs)were also calculated assessing theoretical scenarios based on published interventions aiming to reduce exposure prevalence.Results:There are an increased risk of under-five mortality in those exposed to cooking fuel compared to those not exposed in the four South Asian countries(OR=1.30,95%CI=1.07-1.57,P=0.007).Combined PAF estimates for South Asia found that 66%(95%CI:43.1-81.5%)of the 13,290 estimated cases of under-five mortality was attributable to HAP.Joint PIF estimates(assuming achievable reductions in HAP reported in intervention studies conducted in South Asia)indicates 47%of neonatal and 43%of under-five mortality cases associated with HAP could be avoidable in the four South Asian countries studied.Conclusions:Elimination of exposure to use of cooking fuel in the household targeting valuable intervention strategies(such as cooking in separate kitchen,improved cook stoves)could reduce substantially under-five mortality in South Asian countries.