Cooking Energy Research Articles

Social, physical and economic drivers of unintentional injuries among children under-5 in low-resource communities in Jinja City, Uganda: a photovoice exploration.

The high rates of unintentional injuries among children under 5 in home environments have been attributed to social, physical, and economic drivers, especially in low-resource communities. This research aimed at exploring drivers of unintentional injuries among children under 5 in home environments using photovoice, a community-based participatory research approach. 10 mothers were trained and given digital cameras to take photos of what they perceived to be risky situations for children under 5. The participants met fortnightly over 8 weeks to analyse and discuss their photographs. The discussions and photographs were analysed using conventional content analysis to develop subthemes and major themes. Mothers identified falls, burns, cuts, poisoning and drowning as the main injury hazards in their community. Children's and parents' behaviours and practices were identified as a cause of unintentional injuries in children under 5. Social determinants of health and inequities, including economic issues, lack of space, unsafe play areas and biomass energy for cooking and lighting, were also highlighted. Gender roles and perceptions of injury risks by parents were mentioned during the photograph discussions. Mothers also reflected on how the photovoice approach empowered households and communities to recognise and deal with injury risks. This community-based participatory research methodology provided the much-needed in-depth exploration of the social, physical and economic drivers of injury risks among children under 5 in a low-resourced setting in Uganda while empowering mothers to prevent drivers of unintentional injury among their <5.

Socioeconomic determinants of household cooking fuel choice in West Africa: emphasizing the role of gender, education and wealth

ABSTRACT The choice of cooking fuel source in West African households is influenced by a multitude of socio-economic factors. This article analyses the role of socio-economic factors such as gender, education and wealth in the choice of improved cooking energy sources by households in West African countries. The analysis focuses on four countries namely Burkina Faso, Mali, Ghana and Nigeria and uses a database of 28,444 USAID observations from 2017. The results from the estimation of the fitted logit model, using the maximum likelihood method show that the main factors influencing household choice are gender, wealth level, education level, age of household head, country and area of residence. Indeed, gender has a significant and negative effect on the choice of cooking fuel. Compared to women, men are 0.778 times less likely to choose wood substitutes. Similarly, the level of education of the head of household has a positive influence on the household’s choice of wood substitutes, with each additional year of education associated with a 0.1% increase in the probability of choosing wood substitutes for cooking. The results also indicate that wealth level positively and significantly influences the choice of cooking fuel sources in the households studied. These results suggest that governments should strengthen their national gender policy, implement a policy of wealth creation through income-generating activities, or subsidize the cost of access to clean cooking fuels. Also, awareness-raising campaigns on the environmental effects of household use of clean fuels are also essential.

Techno-economic analysis of clean cooking technologies and fuels in Uganda

Access to clean, affordable, and efficient cooking energy is a key development challenge in Uganda, with over 90% of households and institutions relying on traditional biomass fuels. This study was focused on techno-economic assessment of cooking technologies and fuels through Controlled Cooking Tests (CCTs), surveys, and interviews across household and institutional settings to evaluate fuel consumption, cooking time, cost, and user preferences across wood, charcoal, briquettes, LPG, and electric stoves. The results showed that electric hot plates and LPG stoves were the most energy-efficient, consuming 10.42 MJ and 13.28 MJ, respectively, cooking of 1 kg of beans compared to 38.81 MJ for improved wood stoves and 102.44 MJ for traditional three-stone fires. Cooking time, the improved institutional wood stove was the fastest (129 min), followed by LPG (151 min), traditional stoves (153 min), and electric hot plates (174 min). Fuel cost per kg of beans cooked was highest for LPG (Ugx 5,506) and electricity (Ugx 4,393), while improved briquette stoves were the cheapest (Ugx 302), though their adoption remains limited due to availability issues. Improved biomass stoves demonstrated up to 62% energy savings compared to traditional devices, offering a cost-effective and scalable transition option. This study provides the first comprehensive performance comparison across multiple fuel-stove combinations in Uganda and highlights critical trade-offs between energy efficiency, cost, and accessibility. Strategic policy actions including targeted subsidies, investment in clean fuel supply chains, and behaviour change campaigns are recommended to accelerate adoption and support Uganda’s energy, climate, and development goals.

Analysis of rural women preferences for cooking energy in Ikole Ekiti Local Government Area in Ekiti State, Nigeria

This research investigated preference for cooking energy among rural women in Ikole Local Government Area (LGA), Ekiti State, Nigeria. In particular, the study outlined the socio-economic traits of rural women, recognized various cooking energy types and estimates factors influencing rural women preference for cooking energy. For the study, a multistage sample approach was employed to choose 105 rural women. Multinomial regression and descriptive statistics were the analytical methods employed. The findings indicated that the average age of the respondents who used purely firewood, firewood in addition to charcoal, firewood plus gas, and purely gas were 47, 42, 40, and 38 years old with mean household size of 5, 5, 4, and 4 members and mean cooking experience of 21, 17, 20, and 20 years respectively. When firewood usage is taken as the base outcome, the multinomial logistic regression result shows that age (0.176, p < 0.1), experience (− 0.129, p < 0.05) were significant variables that determines the preference of charcoal and firewood, education (0.184, p < 0.05), and association (1.529, p < 0.1) were significant variables that determines the preference of firewood and gas, while education (0.495, p < 0.01) and income (4.002, p < 0.05) were significant variables that determines the preference of gas. Conclusively, older women are more inclined to use traditional fuels. Targeted assistance (even if subsidy of any sort) for rural women be put in place to reduce the cost of renewable energy options and enhance their affordability for rural households. Therefore, promoting adoption of sustainable cooking energy solutions also requires on-going education through training and extension services.

Policy perspective for achieving the NDCs commitment: household fuel energy transition and attributable factors in a developing economy, India

ABSTRACT The present study attempts to evaluate the transition of cooking and heating energy sources in Indian households and also identifies factors attributing to transition based on an NSSO survey of 2.76 lakh households using a multinomial logit model. We observed that the energy transition from firewood to clean fuel in Indian households follows the “fuel stacking theory” rather than the “energy ladder theory”. The results of the Multinomial Logit showed that income and wealth growth pushes households to use clean fuel; however, landholding and household size do the other way around. The study results justify and indicate the need for the Government’s subsidy-based clean fuel distribution policy. The study also outlines that the reduction of GHGs using traditional fuel may be counter by improving household livelihood and land productivity.

Prospects of Clean Cooking Energy in Africa - Transition Pathways and Implications

Despite abundant renewable energy resources, African countries still suffer from energy poverty, particularly in cooking. Up to 2022, about 74% of the African population had no access to clean cooking energy. With focus to Sub-Saharan African population, 90% has no access to clean cooking energy which decrease by 7% when kerosene is included. Traditional cooking, which involves the use of charcoal and firewood, is associated with health problems, environmental degradation, socioeconomic issues, and gender inequality. Transitioning to clean cooking energy not only promises significant health benefits but also offers opportunities for sustainable economic development and environmental preservation. In this study, the desk research method was used, which involved compiling raw published data such as research articles, government reports, implemented project reports, and published statistics. The following are the findings of this study: Firstly, for the improvement of health, environment, and social economic issues, the community must transition from traditional cooking to clean cooking. Secondly, despite the promises posed by energy transition, upfront cost and technological challenges remain to be a challenge that need action. Thirdly, the government should weigh up on clean cooking technologies investment, program sustainability, and engaging the community. Lastly, the government should structure the clean cooking agenda based on the resource’s proportionality in the region. Generally, to improve the welfare of the community, energy transition from traditional to clean cooking stands as the main piece, however, the government should intentionally intervene for the transition to be realized.

Prospects of Clean Cooking Energy in Africa - Transition Pathways and Implications

Despite abundant renewable energy resources, African countries still suffer from energy poverty, particularly in cooking. Up to 2022, about 74% of the African population had no access to clean cooking energy. With focus to Sub-Saharan African population, 90% has no access to clean cooking energy which decrease by 7% when kerosene is included. Traditional cooking, which involves the use of charcoal and firewood, is associated with health problems, environmental degradation, socioeconomic issues, and gender inequality. Transitioning to clean cooking energy not only promises significant health benefits but also offers opportunities for sustainable economic development and environmental preservation. In this study, the desk research method was used, which involved compiling raw published data such as research articles, government reports, implemented project reports, and published statistics. The following are the findings of this study: Firstly, for the improvement of health, environment, and social economic issues, the community must transition from traditional cooking to clean cooking. Secondly, despite the promises posed by energy transition, upfront cost and technological challenges remain to be a challenge that need action. Thirdly, the government should weigh up on clean cooking technologies investment, program sustainability, and engaging the community. Lastly, the government should structure the clean cooking agenda based on the resource’s proportionality in the region. Generally, to improve the welfare of the community, energy transition from traditional to clean cooking stands as the main piece, however, the government should intentionally intervene for the transition to be realized.

Youth perspectives on induction stoves: advancing sustainable energy transitions in Indonesian cities

Cooking significantly contributes to global energy demand and carbon dioxide emissions. In Indonesia, the largest consumer of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), much of this demand, is met through imports. Transitioning to more sustainable energy sources, such as induction stoves and solar cookers, has become a priority. However, the shift to induction stoves poses challenges due to concerns about electricity availability and the cost of new installations. Engaging Indonesia’s young generation is critical to ensuring the success of this transition. This study explores user behavior and adoption of induction stoves in Indonesia from the perspective of the younger generation. It employs a methodological framework combining elements of the value-based adoption model and the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology, focusing on Performance Expectancy, Perceived Alternative Value, and Conversion Cost in relation to Conversion Intention. Surveys were conducted with 192 individuals aged 12–42 years who currently use LPG as a cooking fuel. Data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling, incorporating reflective, formative, and structural measurement models. The findings revealed that performance expectancy significantly influences conversion intention, and perceived alternative value has a direct impact on conversion intention and mediates the relationship between performance expectancy and conversion intention, while conversion cost does not have a significant effect. These results highlight a strong inclination among younger individuals toward sustainability and their readiness to adopt new technologies despite potential financial challenges. The insights gained from this study can inform policymakers in designing targeted programs that align with the values and preferences of the younger demographic, facilitating a smoother transition to sustainable cooking energy solutions.

The effect of indoor air pollution on under-five child health in South Sudan

BackgroundRespiratory infections claim lives, especially the lives of children under the age of five, around the world. In South Sudan, respiratory infection has been identified as one of the three leading causes of death among children. In addition to other sources of indoor air pollution, cooking elsewhere inside the house but not in the kitchen is a major contributor to indoor air pollution. South Sudan has no access to clean energy for cooking and relies entirely on biomass. Therefore, this study aims to examine the effect of indoor air pollution, proxied by cooking location, on the occurrence of respiratory infection among children under five in South Sudan.MethodThe study used the 2010 South Sudan Household Health Survey 2 data, with 6,307 observations of under-five children. To address potential endogeneity, a Two-Stage Residual Inclusion was employed within the logistic regression framework. Additionally, a control function approach was adopted to account for unobserved heterogeneity, if any, in the model.ResultsCooking elsewhere inside houses but not in the kitchens increases the probability of respiratory infection among children under the age of five in South Sudan. Control variables such as the roofing of the house, the gender of the under-five child, and the gender of the head of the household also influence the probability of respiratory infection among this age group.ConclusionCooking elsewhere inside houses but not in the kitchens while using biomass for cooking has been dangerous for the health of children under the age of five. To save lives, especially those of children, cooking should be done either in a kitchen or outside of houses in the interim while moving towards clean energy for cooking.

Determinants of low birth weight and effect of indoor air pollution on birth weight: A case–control study in a tertiary care centre of Hubballi, Karnataka

ABSTRACT Background: The majority of all low birth weight (LBW) babies are born in developing countries, and half of the population in developing nations use solid fuels as their primary source of energy for cooking. An association between household use of solid biomass fuels and reduced newborn weight has been found in several countries. India has a high prevalence of LBW babies, and 88% of the population use solid fuels for cooking. Objectives: To evaluate the determinants of low birth weight and to assess the effect of exposure of pregnant women to indoor air pollution on the birth weight of newborns. Methodology: A case–control study was conducted on singleton newborn babies of KIMS hospital, Hubballi. A structured pretested validated questionnaire was administered to 146 participants including 73 cases (new born babies with birth weight &lt;2.5 kg) and 73 controls (new born babies with birth weight ≥2.5k g). The questionnaire comprised of sociodemographic characteristics, obstetric history, medical illnesses, and the current pregnancy with its outcomes and indoor air pollution. Results: The study found a significant association between low birth weight and a history of low birth weight, no intake of albendazole tablets, hemoglobin levels during pregnancy, exposure to smoke from mosquito repellent coils during pregnancy, burning of volatile liquids at home, and duration of exposure to indoor air pollutants during pregnancy. Conclusion: Indoor air pollution significantly affects the baby’s birth weight. Appropriate antenatal care and health education to overcome indoor air pollution can significantly improve the birth weight of the baby.

The impact of clean cooking energy on female employment in rural China

The impact of clean cooking energy on female employment in rural China

Forecasting of the Household Cooking Energy Demand Pattern and Emission Scenario in Nepal

Forecasting of the Household Cooking Energy Demand Pattern and Emission Scenario in Nepal

Biogas digester innovations as solution to clean cooking energy challenge in the Pacific Islands: A policy perspective

Biogas digester innovations as solution to clean cooking energy challenge in the Pacific Islands: A policy perspective

Adoption of biogas as a clean cooking practice and adoption of biogas slurry as a sustainable agriculture practice in tribal households in the Trimbakeshwar block of the Nashik district, Maharashtra, India

This study investigated the impact of an innovative "Integrated Renewable Energy and Sustainable Agriculture" (IRESA) intervention model, implemented in a tribal community in rural Maharashtra, India, aimed to address the dual challenges of limited access to clean cooking energy and unsustainable agricultural practice of using chemical fertilizers. The IRESA model, centred on household-level biogas units with the application of biogas slurry in crop cultivation and a social enterprise for value-added organic fertilizer production, was evaluated 3 years post-implementation to assess its sustainability and impact on livelihoods. Employing a quantitative survey approach, which included a sample of 49 households, the research examined the situation regarding cooking energy usage and application of chemical fertilizers. Findings reveal a complete adoption of biogas for cooking from ceasing the use of polluting fuels like crop residues and cow dung cakes, significantly reducing indoor air pollution and drudgery for women, thus contributing to SDG 7. A substantial decrease in annual expenditure on chemical fertilizers indicated reduced reliance on them, coupled with increased agricultural income attributed to the use of biogas slurry as an organic fertilizer, which is aligned with SDG 15. This study highlights the potential of integrated, community-driven models to promote clean energy access and sustainable agriculture, contributing valuable insights into the long-term impacts of such interventions in rural Indian contexts.

Elderly care and clean cooking energy use in rural households: A financially supported perspective

Elderly care and clean cooking energy use in rural households: A financially supported perspective

Institutions, Democracy, and the Transition to Clean Cooking Energy in Emerging Nations

ABSTRACTClimate change and its associated health impacts represent the most pressing global challenges confronting policymakers and governments. These issues demand urgent attention and coordinated action, as they threaten public health, environmental stability and socioeconomic well‐being. One of the crucial goals of Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG‐7) is to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all. Despite the notable economic growth in emerging nations, the shift from traditional to clean cooking energies has been sluggish, particularly, when examining the rural–urban divide. Conventional energy sources continue to pose severe threats to human health and environmental quality, making the transition to clean energy essential. While numerous studies have analyzed economic factors driving clean energy adoption in emerging nations, there has been limited attention to the role of institutions and democracy. This research utilizes secondary data from 20 emerging nations from 2000 to 2021 to address this gap. The study employs panel cointegration and fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS) models to investigate the impact of institutional quality and levels of democracy on the energy transition. The findings reveal that institutions and democracy play a significant role in adopting clean cooking energy. In all four empirical models, the coefficients for democracy and institutions are found to be 0.30, 0.35, 0.19, 0.30, and 1.89, 3.68, 3.92, and 7.98, respectively, indicating that stronger institutions and democracy increase the adoption of clean cooking energies. Moreover, macroeconomic factors such as foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows, financial development, and economic growth contribute to improving clean energy supply and adoption; however, their positive effects are contingent on strong institutions. The study concludes that the success of macroeconomic strategies in promoting clean energy is intertwined with the quality of institutions and democratic governance. Based on these insights, the paper offers several policy recommendations to enhance the transition to clean cooking energy in emerging nations.

Prevalence of Cooking-Related Burns in Peri-Urban Cameroon, Ghana, and Kenya by Fuel Type

Background:Over 70% of Africans rely on polluting sources of energy for cooking. There is a paucity of epidemiological evidence on the burden of cooking fuel–related burns (CRBs) among women and children in low- and middle-income countries.Objectives:We estimated the prevalence of CRBs and association with main fuel choice among primary cooks and children 0–5 years of age in peri-urban areas in Kenya, Cameroon, and Ghana.Methods:We conducted a multisite cross-sectional survey in Mbalmayo, Cameroon; Obuasi, Ghana; and Eldoret, Kenya. Standardized questionnaires were administered between April 2019 and February 2020 to primary cooks. Questions included sociodemographic characteristics, primary fuel choice, and experience of burns within the previous 12 months. Overall and site-specific prevalence of CRBs were calculated, and their association with primary cooking fuel type was determined.Results:Overall, 128 out of 1,240 primary cooks [10.3%, 95% confidence interval (CI): 8.7, 12.2] reported at least one CRB during the previous 12 months. Most primary cooks had been burned multiple times (, interquartile range: 2–5). CRB prevalence among primary cooks in Mbalmayo (23.3%, 95% CI: 19.4, 27.5) was significantly higher than in Obuasi (3.3%, 95% CI: 1.7, 5.8) and Eldoret (3.2%, 95% CI: 1.7, 5.3). Among children, the overall prevalence of CRBs was 5.1% (95% CI: 3.7, 6.9; ) and was comparable across sites: Mbalmayo, 6.5% (95% CI: 4.0, 10.0); Eldoret, 4.7% (95% CI: 2.5, 7.9); and Obuasi, 3.9% (95% CI: 1.9, 7.1). Overall, there was no significant difference in CRB prevalence among liquefied petroleum gas primary users compared with exclusive biomass users considering primary cooks (11.8% vs. 9.2%, ) and children (4.4% vs. 5.5%, ). Older age [adjusted odds ratio ; 95% CI: 0.3, 0.9; ] and higher income (; 95% CI: 0.2, 0.5; ) significantly lowered odds of CRBs.Conclusions:CRB prevalence among primary cooks between communities was high but was not related to the main choice of fuel for cooking across the selected study sites. Older age and higher income significantly reduced the risk of CRBs among both primary cooks and their children. https://doi.org/10.1289/JHP1095

Assessing the impact of clean cooking energy on mental health in Indonesia

The health consequences of household air pollution caused by the use of solid cooking fuels are a significant priority in the worldwide endeavor to promote a shift towards clean energy. In comparison to other developing countries, the transition to clean cooking energy in Indonesia is the most significant. So far, no study has attempted to quantify the causal effects of clean cooking energy adoption on mental health in Indonesia. By using Indonesian Family Life Survey (IFLS) data and complementary estimation techniques, such as Propensity Score Matching and Difference-in-Difference (PSM-DID), this study attempts to close a research gap by analyzing the effects of the cooking energy transition on mental health in Indonesia. These techniques help to overcome biases resulting from selection mechanisms that might make it difficult to identify causal effects. The findings revealed that individuals who converted to clean cooking energy had lower Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression (CESD) scores and a 2.9% lower risk of having depressed symptoms. Women and those who live in urban were more affected than other groups, with a 3.5% and 5.2% decrease in the likelihood of depressive symptoms. These results imply that switching cooking energy sources can might improve individual's mental health. This study also addresses the potential channeling of the clean cooking energy transition and mental health, using physical health status and social participation.

Enhancing clean cooking energy transition through living facility improvements: Experience from China

Enhancing clean cooking energy transition through living facility improvements: Experience from China

Fuel upgrading in the kitchen: When cognition of biodiversity conservation and climate change facilitates household cooking energy transition in nine nature reserves and their adjacent regions

Fuel upgrading in the kitchen: When cognition of biodiversity conservation and climate change facilitates household cooking energy transition in nine nature reserves and their adjacent regions