Evaluation of Behavior Change Communication Campaigns to Promote Modern Cookstove Purchase and Use in Lower Middle Income Countries

Abstract

Nearly three billion people worldwide burn solid fuels and kerosene in open fires and inefficient stoves to cook, light, and heat their homes. Cleaner-burning stoves reduce emissions and can have positive health, climate, and women’s empowerment benefits. This article reports on the protocol and baseline data from the evaluation of four behavior change communication (BCC) campaigns carried out in lower to middle income countries aimed at promoting the sale and use of cleaner-burning stoves. Interventions implemented in Bangladesh, Kenya, and Nigeria are using a range of BCC methods including mass media, digital media, outdoor advertising, and inter-personal communication. The mixed methods evaluation comprises three large-scale surveys: one pre-BCC and two follow-ups, along with smaller scale assessments of stove uptake and patterns of use. Baseline results revealed varying levels of awareness of previous promotions and positive attitudes and beliefs about modern (i.e., relatively clean-burning) cookstoves. Differences in cookstove preferences and behaviors by gender, socio-demographics, media use, and country/region were observed that may affect outcomes. Across all three countries, cost (lack of funds) a key perceived barrier to buying a cleaner-burning stove. Future multivariate analyses will examine potential dose-response effects of BCC on cookstove uptake and patterns of use. BCC campaigns have the potential to promote modern cookstoves at scale. More research on campaign effectiveness is needed, and on how to optimize messages and channels. This evaluation builds on a limited evidence base in the field.

The Shamba Chef Educational Entertainment Program to Promote Modern Cookstoves in Kenya: Outcomes and Dose–Response Analysis

“…In recent years, behavior change communication (BCC) and social marketing have begun to be applied to the challenge of increasing awareness, uptake and use of modern cooking options [8]. These strategies have the potential to reach large audiences on a national and regional scale and generate levels of demand that can spur commercial scale-up of these technologies and fuels.…”

“…As part of a larger project supported by the Clean Cooking Alliance (The Alliance), funded by the United Kingdom Department of Foreign Investment and Development (DFID), and elsewhere [8], the Mediae Company (Mediae)-an educational entertainment producer-created the home makeover television and radio show, Shamba Chef, designed to promote modern, cleaner, safer cooking methods and improved nutrition in Kenyan homes. Mediae also produces a series of other educational entertainment media including Shamba Shape Up, one of East Africa's leading agricultural TV shows (https://shambashapeup.com/).…”

“…As part of the Alliance's overall modern cookstove promotion intervention, the authors led an impact evaluation to assess the effects of Shamba Chef on modern cookstove adoption outcomes, including knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, intentions, purchase, and changes in modern cookstove use attributed to the program. This study was part of a larger evaluation of four modern cookstove BCC interventions (Shamba Chef, another program in Kenya, a program in Bangladesh, and one in Nigeria) described elsewhere [8].…”

Understanding the household cooking fuel transition

“…Access to internet and communication technologies (ICT) services or mass media may provide access to this information (Pachauri & Rao, ; Rosenthal et al, ). Evans et al () investigate in a multisite study in Kenya (981 households), Bangladesh (792 households), and Nigeria (890 households), the role of exposure to communication campaigns related to improved cookstove use (including LPG). Results in Kenya and Nigeria indicate that educational radio programs improve household attitude towards improved cooking stoves and increase awareness of health benefits.…”

Designing a comprehensive behaviour change intervention to promote and monitor exclusive use of liquefied petroleum gas stoves for the Household Air Pollution Intervention Network (HAPIN) trial

“…20 24 Markets that assure adequate supply to meet household demand are a critical need. [25][26][27][28] At the household level, other factors play a role, including perceptions that traditional foods prepared with a solid fuel stove taste better, [29][30][31] and that two-burner LPG stoves cannot accommodate cooking large quantities of food. 32 Finally, fear that LPG stoves are dangerous may impede adoption.…”