Abstract
The aim of this study is to assess the types of household cooking fuel used by residents of Isiohor community in Edo State, Nigeria. This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 133 household heads or their representatives in Isiohor Community in Edo State, Nigeria. Data collection was by means of a structured interviewer administered questionnaire. Half (50.3%) of the households studied were made up of 4-6 persons living in them. Sixty-two (46.6%) respondents had tertiary level of education and a third 44 (33.1%) earned between 21,000 and 30,000 naira (150-200 dollars) monthly. Forty six (34.6%) and 27 (20.3%) respondents live in passage houses and flats respectively. Two thirds (68.4%) of the respondents cook their food indoors. The predominant household cooking fuels used by the respondents were cooking gas (51.1%), Kerosene (45.9%), vegetables (25.6%) and firewood (14.3%). Majority 106 (79.7%) had poor knowledge of the health effects of prolonged exposure to smoke arising from indoor cooking. There was a statistically significant association between the occupation of the respondents and the type of household cooking fuel used (p=0.002). The use of unclean indoor cooking fuel was high among the residents of Isiohor community in Edo State, Nigeria. Also, there was poor knowledge of the health effects of prolonged exposure to smoke from unclean cooking fuel among the respondents and this has serious implications for indoor air pollution. There is an urgent need for health/hygiene education on the health effects of use of unclean indoor cooking fuel among these residents. There is also need for use of clean/green cooking stoves and construction of exhaust ventilation pipes in these households.
Highlights
Energy is essential to meet most of the basic needs of the people such as cooking, boiling water, lighting and heating
The Nigerian Demographic and health Survey (NDHS) of 2008 showed that three‐quarters of all households in Nigeria are using solid fuels for cooking and the use of solid fuel is moderate in urban areas (45.0%) but very high in rural areas (90.0%) [4]
Isiohor community is located in the suburb of Benin City, along Benin-Lagos expressway and adjacent to the Ugbowo campus of the University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria
Summary
Energy is essential to meet most of the basic needs of the people such as cooking, boiling water, lighting and heating. It is necessary for good health if the sources are clean, as this reduces exposure to health damaging pollutants and the consequent implications [1]. Isara et al Household Cooking Fuel Use in a Sub-Urban Community erences [2] This is compounded by the poor economic situation and by the epileptic and poor electricity supply. These have resulted in the use of fossil and solid fuel (biomass and coal) as major sources of cooking energy by the people [3]. The percentage of households that cook in their dwelling is higher in urban areas (43.0%) than in rural areas (38.0%) [4, 5]
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