Determinants of solid fuel use in Sub-Saharan Africa: A multilevel analysis using DHS data
Jember Azanaw1, Mastewal Endalew1
1Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Plos One
|April 25, 2025
Summary
Solid fuel use is prevalent in Sub-Saharan Africa, affecting over 82% of households. Key factors include poverty, lack of education, and limited electricity access, highlighting the need for public health interventions.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Public Health
- Energy Policy
Background:
- Energy sources significantly impact community economic development and public health.
- Indoor air pollution from dirty energy sources causes millions of deaths globally.
- 90% of Africans rely on solid fuels for domestic use, posing significant health risks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of solid fuel use in Sub-Saharan Africa.
- To identify individual and community-level factors associated with solid fuel use.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) data.
- Employed a two-stage cluster sampling methodology.
- Applied multilevel logistic regression to analyze 233,391 weighted samples.
Main Results:
- Solid fuel use prevalence was 82.05% in Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Factors like poverty, lack of education, and limited electricity access significantly increased solid fuel use.
- Household head's age, marital status, family size, and rural residence were also associated with solid fuel use.
Conclusions:
- High prevalence of solid fuel use necessitates targeted public health interventions.
- Addressing poverty, improving electricity access, and enhancing education are crucial.
- Raising awareness about health risks associated with solid fuel use is vital.
