A strategy to increase adoption of locally-produced, ceramic cookstoves in rural Kenyan households

Abstract

BackgroundExposure to household air pollutants released during cooking has been linked to numerous adverse health outcomes among residents of rural areas in low-income countries. Improved cookstoves are one of few available interventions, but achieving equity in cookstove access has been challenging. Therefore, innovative approaches are needed. To evaluate a project designed to motivate adoption of locally-produced, ceramic cookstoves (upesi jiko) in an impoverished, rural African population, we assessed the perceived benefits of the cookstoves (in monetary and time-savings terms), the rate of cookstove adoption, and the equity of adoption.MethodsThe project was conducted in 60 rural Kenyan villages in 2008 and 2009. Baseline (n = 1250) and follow-up (n = 293) surveys and a stove-tracking database were analyzed.ResultsAt baseline, nearly all respondents used wood (95%) and firepits (99%) for cooking; 98% desired smoke reductions. Households with upesi jiko subsequently spent <100 Kenyan Shillings/week on firewood more often (40%) than households without upesi jiko (20%) (p = 0.0002). There were no significant differences in the presence of children <2 years of age in households using upesi jiko (48%) or three-stone stoves (49%) (p = 0.88); children 2–5 years of age were less common in households using upesi jiko versus three-stone stoves (46% and 69%, respectively) (p = 0.0001). Vendors installed 1,124 upesi jiko in 757 multi-family households in 18 months; 68% of these transactions involved incentives for vendors and purchasers. Relatively few (<10%) upesi jiko were installed in households of women in the youngest age quartile (<22 years) or among households in the poorest quintile.ConclusionsOur strategy of training of local vendors, appropriate incentives, and product integration effectively accelerated cookstove adoption into a large number of households. The strategy also created opportunities to reinforce health messages and promote cookstoves sales and installation. However, the project’s overall success was diminished by inequitable and incomplete adoption by households with the lowest socioeconomic status and young children present. Additional evaluations of similar strategies will be needed to determine whether our strategy can be applied equitably elsewhere, and whether reductions in fuel use, household air pollution, and the incidence of respiratory diseases will follow adoption of improved cookstoves.

Impact of Locally-Produced, Ceramic Cookstoves on Respiratory Disease in Children in Rural Western Kenya

“…10 Upesi jikos reportedly burned fuel more efficiently and cooked food faster than 3-stone firepits, which may have decreased exposure to smoke in the home. 9 Chemicals in wood smoke provoke inflammatory responses in the lungs, irritate airways, and suppress the immune system. 18 A reduction of exposure to airway irritants in the homes of upesi jiko users may have had a beneficial impact on respiratory symptoms.…”

“…For the Alliance to reach its goals, future dissemination plans will likely need to incorporate heavily subsidized or free distribution of improved cookstoves. 9,19 Experience from this project has revealed important considerations for future efforts to scale up improved cookstoves. According to SWAP (www.swapkenya.org), over 2,500 upesi jikos were sold in 3 years, suggesting consistent demand for upesi jikos.…”

“…According to SWAP (www.swapkenya.org), over 2,500 upesi jikos were sold in 3 years, suggesting consistent demand for upesi jikos. 9 Convenience of use, expanded surface area on top of the stove for food preparation, reduced visible smoke in the home, reduced cook times, household cleanliness (e.g., decreased soot on the walls), and lower fuel expenditures were cited by users as benefits of the upesi jiko.…”

“…8 In rural western Kenya, a survey conducted in 2008 in 60 villages found that nearly all households used traditional, open firepits surrounded by stones ("3-stone firepits") for cooking, and that 95% burned unprocessed biomass (especially wood) for fuel. 9 Respondents reported concerns about the adverse health effects related to the use of 3-stone firepits, including breathing smoke (80%), burns (37%), and respiratory infections (11%).…”

Global anthropogenic emissions of particulate matter including black carbon

“…Amann et al, 2008, peer-reviewed papers (e.g. Klimont et al, 2009;Lewis and Pattanayak, 2012;Li et al, 2016;Pine et al, 2011;Ruiz-Mercado et al, 2011;Shrimali et al, 2011;Silk et al, 2012;Troncoso et al, 2011), and published reports (Adria and Bethge, 2013;Germain et al, 2008;Scott, 2005;Todd, 2003). Technology structure has an impact on the im- …”