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

Abstract

Background: Globally, an estimated 3.6 billion people rely on solid fuels for cooking over open fires or in simple cookstoves. Universal access to clean cooking fuels and technology by 2030 is a United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal. Methods: The Mediae Company created a home makeover television and radio show, Shamba Chef, designed to promote modern, cleaner, safer cooking methods and improved nutrition in Kenya, which reached 5 million homes in late 2017. This was accompanied by a mobile phone platform called iChef. Researchers evaluated the effects of Shamba Chef on cookstove purchase, use, and attitudes, beliefs, and intentions. Results: The study revealed dose–response effects of Shamba Chef exposure on several key outcomes. Exposure to the program was associated with an awareness of improved biomass stoves (OR 4.4; 95% CI 2.8 to 6.9), and aspirations to own an improved biomass stove (OR 2.0; 95% CI 1.4 to 2.9). Receiving information about modern stoves from two or more sources generated greater awareness of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) stoves (OR 2.0; 95% CI 1.3 to 3.1). The qualitative study revealed that Shamba Chef explained how the stoves worked, communicated their benefits, and encouraged participants to trust and purchase those cookstoves. Conclusion: Shamba Chef was successful in influencing determinants of cookstove purchase and use, and there is evidence from the qualitative study that it influenced the purchase and use of improved biomass stoves.

Feasibility of a Digital Intervention to Promote Healthy Weight Management among Postpartum African American/Black Women

“…Acceptability was similar across content types, suggesting that women found the information provided in the didactic lessons as well as the edutainment videos useful for their healthy eating and physical activity goals. These findings are similar to others (e.g., [ 40 , 41 ]) and indicate that future studies should explore multiple ways of presenting and modeling relevant information. Informational and emotional support that women derived from the Facebook group was modest, which may indicate the nature of the postpartum period and participating in a group with unknown social network contacts.…”

“…The badges did not appear to provide sufficient extrinsic motivation to encourage either goal achievement or monitoring within the app. The behavioral goals were based on previous work [ 41 , 42 ], varied in terms of intensity and difficulty, and provided women with the opportunity to change the goals each week. We did not obtain feedback on the goals, so we cannot determine whether they were realistic or too burdensome given stress and having a new baby at home.…”

Demand Creation for COVID-19 Vaccination: Overcoming Vaccine Hesitancy through Social Marketing

“… COVID-19 vaccination ambassadors and partners including influential persons, organizations, businesses in local communities who will be recruited and trained to deliver pro-vaccination information within their towns and villages; These groups will also be used to provide continuous feedback about how well the program is being delivered, its impact and how it can be improved. Educational entertainment (edutainment) in the form of a reality-based video and radio series that depicts a family and community with vaccination-age children making decisions to get vaccinated, to be delivered on TV, radio, and social media such as YouTube and Facebook and modelled on successful series developed on other topics such as HIV prevention and modern cookstove purchase [ 42 , 43 ]. Service design strategy that ensures that access to vaccination is an easy low-cost experience that instils confidence in the service providers and vaccine.…”

“…Educational entertainment (edutainment) in the form of a reality-based video and radio series that depicts a family and community with vaccination-age children making decisions to get vaccinated, to be delivered on TV, radio, and social media such as YouTube and Facebook and modelled on successful series developed on other topics such as HIV prevention and modern cookstove purchase [ 42 , 43 ].…”

The role of climate finance beyond renewables: Behavioural insights

“…of clean fuel adoption in developing countries.Behaviour change communication techniques that target specific behaviours and habits at the household level have proven effective in shifting attitudes and perceptions towards cleaner fuels. Notably, two studies evaluated the effectiveness of Samba Chef in Kenya, a reality TV programme launched by the Clean Cooking Alliance and the Mediae Company and funded by the former UK Department for International Development, in which hosts visited homes to discuss the value of clean cookstoves for improved nutrition, health, financial savings and reputation in the community(Evans et al, 2018(Evans et al, , 2020 Evans et al (2018). found the entertaining format of the programme, which ran recipe demonstrations with well-known chefs, 'cook-off' competitions between neighbours, to increase awareness of efficient wood, charcoal and LGP stoves and intentions to purchase.…”