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Medgyesi DN, Mujtaba MN, Yang Q, Abubakari SW, Lee AG, Porter J, Chillrud SN, Kaali S, Jack DW, Asante KP. Geospatial determinants of maternal and child exposure to fine particulate matter in Kintampo, Ghana: Levels within the household and community, by surrounding building density and near roadways. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2023:10.1038/s41370-023-00606-1. [PMID: 37798345 PMCID: PMC10995107 DOI: 10.1038/s41370-023-00606-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Personal exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from household air pollution is well-documented in sub-Saharan Africa, but spatiotemporal patterns of exposure are poorly characterized. OBJECTIVE We used paired GPS and personal PM2.5 data to evaluate changes in exposure across location-time environments (e.g., household and community, during cooking and non-cooking hours), building density and proximity to roadways. METHODS Our study included 259 sessions of geolocated, gravimetrically-calibrated one-minute personal PM2.5 measurements from participants in the GRAPHS Child Lung Function Study. The household vicinity was defined using a 50-meter buffer around participants' homes. Community boundaries were developed using a spatial clustering algorithm applied to an open-source dataset of building footprints in Africa. For each GPS location, we estimated building density (500 m buffer) and proximity to roadways (100 m buffer). We estimated changes in PM2.5 exposure by location (household, community), time of day (morning/evening cooking hours, night), building density, and proximity to roadways using linear mixed effect models. RESULTS Relative to nighttime household exposure, PM2.5 exposure during evening cooking hours was 2.84 (95%CI = 2.70-2.98) and 1.80 (95%CI = 1.54-2.10) times higher in the household and community, respectively. Exposures were elevated in areas with the highest versus lowest quartile of building density (FactorQ1vsQ4 = 1.60, 95%CI = 1.42-1.80). The effect of building density was strongest during evening cooking hours, and influenced levels in both the household and community (31% and 65% relative increase from Q1 to Q4, respectively). Being proximal to a trunk, tertiary or track roadway increased exposure by a factor of 1.16 (95%CI = 1.07-1.25), 1.68 (95%CI = 1.45-1.95) and 1.27 (95%CI = 1.06-1.53), respectively. IMPACT Household air pollution from cooking with solid fuels in sub-Saharan Africa is a major environmental concern for maternal and child health. Our study advances previous knowledge by quantifying the impact of household cooking activities on air pollution levels in the community, and identifying two geographic features, building density and roadways, that contribute to maternal and child daily exposure. Household cooking contributes to higher air pollution levels in the community especially in areas with greater building density. Findings underscore the need for equitable clean household energy transitions that reach entire communities to reduce health risks from household and outdoor air pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle N Medgyesi
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Mohammed Nuhu Mujtaba
- Kintampo Health Research Centre, Research and Development Division, Ghana Health Service, Kintampo, North Municipality, Ghana
| | - Qiang Yang
- Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University, Palisades, NY, USA
- Elsevier Global STM Journals, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sulemana Watara Abubakari
- Kintampo Health Research Centre, Research and Development Division, Ghana Health Service, Kintampo, North Municipality, Ghana
| | - Alison G Lee
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jeremy Porter
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Sociology, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Brooklyn College, Brooklyn, NY, USA
| | - Steven N Chillrud
- Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University, Palisades, NY, USA
| | - Seyram Kaali
- Kintampo Health Research Centre, Research and Development Division, Ghana Health Service, Kintampo, North Municipality, Ghana
| | - Darby W Jack
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kwaku Poku Asante
- Kintampo Health Research Centre, Research and Development Division, Ghana Health Service, Kintampo, North Municipality, Ghana
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Williams KN, Quinn A, North H, Wang J, Pillarisetti A, Thompson LM, Díaz-Artiga A, Balakrishnan K, Thangavel G, Rosa G, Ndagijimana F, Underhill LJ, Kirby MA, Puzzolo E, Hossen S, Waller LA, Peel JL, Rosenthal JP, Clasen TF, Harvey SA, Checkley W. Fidelity and adherence to a liquefied petroleum gas stove and fuel intervention: The multi-country Household Air Pollution Intervention Network (HAPIN) trial. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 179:108160. [PMID: 37660633 PMCID: PMC10512198 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Reducing household air pollution (HAP) to levels associated with health benefits requires nearly exclusive use of clean cooking fuels and abandonment of traditional biomass fuels. METHODS The Household Air Pollution Intervention Network (HAPIN) trial randomized 3,195 pregnant women in Guatemala, India, Peru, and Rwanda to receive a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) stove intervention (n = 1,590), with controls expected to continue cooking with biomass fuels (n = 1,605). We assessed fidelity to intervention implementation and participant adherence to the intervention starting in pregnancy through the infant's first birthday using fuel delivery and repair records, surveys, observations, and temperature-logging stove use monitors (SUMs). RESULTS Fidelity and adherence to the HAPIN intervention were high. Median time required to refill LPG cylinders was 1 day (interquartile range 0-2). Although 26% (n = 410) of intervention participants reported running out of LPG at some point, the number of times was low (median: 1 day [Q1, Q3: 1, 2]) and mostly limited to the first four months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Most repairs were completed on the same day as problems were reported. Traditional stove use was observed in only 3% of observation visits, and 89% of these observations were followed up with behavioral reinforcement. According to SUMs data, intervention households used their traditional stove a median of 0.4% of all monitored days, and 81% used the traditional stove < 1 day per month. Traditional stove use was slightly higher post-COVID-19 (detected on a median [Q1, Q3] of 0.0% [0.0%, 3.4%] of days) than pre-COVID-19 (0.0% [0.0%, 1.6%] of days). There was no significant difference in intervention adherence pre- and post-birth. CONCLUSION Free stoves and an unlimited supply of LPG fuel delivered to participating homes combined with timely repairs, behavioral messaging, and comprehensive stove use monitoring contributed to high intervention fidelity and near-exclusive LPG use within the HAPIN trial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kendra N Williams
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA; Center for Global Non-Communicable Disease Research and Training, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Hayley North
- Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jiantong Wang
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Ajay Pillarisetti
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Lisa M Thompson
- Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Anaité Díaz-Artiga
- Center for Health Studies, Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, Guatemala City, Guatemala
| | - Kalpana Balakrishnan
- ICMR Center for Advanced Research on Air Quality, Climate and Health, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai, India
| | - Gurusamy Thangavel
- ICMR Center for Advanced Research on Air Quality, Climate and Health, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai, India
| | - Ghislaine Rosa
- Public Health, Policy & Systems, Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | | | - Lindsay J Underhill
- Cardiovascular Division, John T. Milliken Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Miles A Kirby
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard University T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Elisa Puzzolo
- Public Health, Policy & Systems, Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Shakir Hossen
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA; Center for Global Non-Communicable Disease Research and Training, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Lance A Waller
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Jennifer L Peel
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Joshua P Rosenthal
- Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Thomas F Clasen
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Steven A Harvey
- Department of International Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - William Checkley
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA; Center for Global Non-Communicable Disease Research and Training, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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Williams KN, Quinn A, North H, Wang J, Pillarisetti A, Thompson LM, Díaz-Artiga A, Balakrishnan K, Thangavel G, Rosa G, Ndagijimana F, Underhill LJ, Kirby MA, Puzzolo E, Hossen S, Waller LA, Peel JL, Rosenthal JP, Clasen TF, Harvey SA, Checkley W. Fidelity and adherence to a liquefied petroleum gas stove and fuel intervention: the multi-country Household Air Pollution Intervention Network (HAPIN) trial. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2023:2023.06.20.23291670. [PMID: 37425899 PMCID: PMC10327189 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.20.23291670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
Background Reducing household air pollution (HAP) to levels associated with health benefits requires nearly exclusive use of clean cooking fuels and abandonment of traditional biomass fuels. Methods The Household Air Pollution Intervention Network (HAPIN) trial randomized 3,195 pregnant women in Guatemala, India, Peru, and Rwanda to receive a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) stove intervention (n=1,590), with controls expected to continue cooking with biomass fuels (n=1,605). We assessed fidelity to intervention implementation and participant adherence to the intervention starting in pregnancy through the infant's first birthday using fuel delivery and repair records, surveys, observations, and temperature-logging stove use monitors (SUMs). Results Fidelity and adherence to the HAPIN intervention were high. Median time required to refill LPG cylinders was 1 day (interquartile range 0-2). Although 26% (n=410) of intervention participants reported running out of LPG at some point, the number of times was low (median: 1 day [Q1, Q3: 1, 2]) and mostly limited to the first four months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Most repairs were completed on the same day as problems were reported. Traditional stove use was observed in only 3% of observation visits, and 89% of these observations were followed up with behavioral reinforcement. According to SUMs data, intervention households used their traditional stove a median of 0.4% of all monitored days, and 81% used the traditional stove <1 day per month. Traditional stove use was slightly higher post-COVID-19 (detected on a median [Q1, Q3] of 0.0% [0.0%, 3.4%] of days) than pre-COVID-19 (0.0% [0.0%, 1.6%] of days). There was no significant difference in intervention adherence pre- and post-birth. Conclusion Free stoves and an unlimited supply of LPG fuel delivered to participating homes combined with timely repairs, behavioral messaging, and comprehensive stove use monitoring contributed to high intervention fidelity and near-exclusive LPG use within the HAPIN trial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kendra N. Williams
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Center for Global Non-Communicable Disease Research and Training, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Hayley North
- Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jiantong Wang
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Ajay Pillarisetti
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Lisa M. Thompson
- Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Anaité Díaz-Artiga
- Center for Health Studies, Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, Guatemala City, Guatemala
| | - Kalpana Balakrishnan
- ICMR Center for Advanced Research on Air Quality, Climate and Health, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai, India
| | - Gurusamy Thangavel
- ICMR Center for Advanced Research on Air Quality, Climate and Health, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai, India
| | - Ghislaine Rosa
- Public Health, Policy & Systems, Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | | | - Lindsay J. Underhill
- Cardiovascular Division, John T. Milliken Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Miles A. Kirby
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard University T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Elisa Puzzolo
- Public Health, Policy & Systems, Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Shakir Hossen
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Center for Global Non-Communicable Disease Research and Training, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Lance A. Waller
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Jennifer L. Peel
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Joshua P. Rosenthal
- Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Thomas F. Clasen
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Steven A. Harvey
- Department of International Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - William Checkley
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Center for Global Non-Communicable Disease Research and Training, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Mawusi SK, Shrestha P, Xue C, Liu G. A comprehensive review of the production, adoption and sustained use of biomass pellets in Ghana. Heliyon 2023; 9:e16416. [PMID: 37292302 PMCID: PMC10245022 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e16416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Ghana's Renewable Energy Master Plan of 2019 includes the production and use of biomass pellets. However, pellets have neither been developed commercially nor included in Ghana's energy mix. This paper reviewed the prospect of production, adoption and sustained use of pellets in Ghana. Besides having abundant biomass resources, Ghana has high market demand and relevant policies for pellet development. The production of pellets can significantly replace traditional household biomass demand and improve environmental and health quality. However, the production and use of pellets are limited due to technical, financial, social and policy issues. Our estimates show that 3% of the annual national average household income will be spent on pellet demand for cooking, with the highest burden on rural households in Ghana. Practical measures are required since the cost of pellets and gasifier stoves may limit pellet adoption and use in Ghana. Based on study findings, it is recommended that the government of Ghana establishes a robust supply chain and provides infrastructure for pellet production and use. Existing renewable energy policies should be reviewed to remove ambiguities, attract investment, and build capacity in the renewable energy sector. Apart from raising public awareness of the benefits of pellets use, the government of Ghana should ensure that continuous and thorough impact assessments are undertaken to assess the implications of pellet production and use. This review will inform policymaking on achieving sustainable production, adoption and use of pellets and assess Ghana's contribution to achieving the United Nations' sustainable development goals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Chunyu Xue
- Corresponding author. 15 Beisanhuan East Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100029, China.
| | - Guangqing Liu
- Corresponding author. 15 Beisanhuan East Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100029, China.
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Chillrud SN, Ae-Ngibise KA, Gould CF, Owusu-Agyei S, Mujtaba M, Manu G, Burkart K, Kinney PL, Quinn A, Jack DW, Asante KP. The effect of clean cooking interventions on mother and child personal exposure to air pollution: results from the Ghana Randomized Air Pollution and Health Study (GRAPHS). JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2021; 31:683-698. [PMID: 33654272 DOI: 10.1038/s41370021-00309-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Revised: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Clean cooking interventions to reduce air pollution exposure from burning biomass for daily cooking and heating needs have the potential to reduce a large burden of disease globally. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study is to evaluate the air pollution exposure impacts of a fan-assisted efficient biomass-burning cookstove and a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) stove intervention in rural Ghana. METHODS We randomized 1414 households in rural Ghana with pregnant mothers into a control arm (N = 526) or one of two clean cooking intervention arms: a fan-assisted efficient biomass-burning cookstove (N = 527) or an LPG stove and cylinder refills as needed (N = 361). We monitored personal maternal carbon monoxide (CO) at baseline and six times after intervention and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure twice after intervention. Children received three CO exposure monitoring sessions. RESULTS We obtained 5655 48-h maternal CO exposure estimates and 1903 for children, as well as 1379 maternal PM2.5 exposure estimates. Median baseline CO exposures in the control, improved biomass, and LPG arms were 1.17, 1.17, and 1.30 ppm, respectively. Based on a differences-in-differences approach, the LPG arm showed a 47% reduction (95% confidence interval: 34-57%) in mean 48-h CO exposure compared to the control arm. Mean maternal PM2.5 exposure in the LPG arm was 32% lower than the control arm during the post-intervention period (52 ± 29 vs. 77 ± 44 μg/m3). The biomass stove did not meaningfully reduce CO or PM2.5 exposure. CONCLUSIONS We show that LPG interventions lowered air pollution exposure significantly compared to three-stone fires. However, post-intervention exposures still exceeded health-relevant targets. SIGNIFICANCE In a large controlled trial of cleaner cooking interventions, an LPG stove and fuel intervention reduced air pollution exposure in a vulnerable population in a low-resource setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven N Chillrud
- Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, Palisades, NY, USA
| | | | - Carlos F Gould
- Department of Environmental Health Science, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Seth Owusu-Agyei
- Kintampo Health Research Centre, Ghana Health Service, Kintampo, Ghana
- Institute of Health Research, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana
| | - Mohammed Mujtaba
- Kintampo Health Research Centre, Ghana Health Service, Kintampo, Ghana
| | - Grace Manu
- Kintampo Health Research Centre, Ghana Health Service, Kintampo, Ghana
| | - Katrin Burkart
- Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Patrick L Kinney
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ashlinn Quinn
- Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Darby W Jack
- Department of Environmental Health Science, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kwaku Poku Asante
- Kintampo Health Research Centre, Ghana Health Service, Kintampo, Ghana
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Chillrud SN, Ae-Ngibise KA, Gould CF, Owusu-Agyei S, Mujtaba M, Manu G, Burkart K, Kinney PL, Quinn A, Jack DW, Asante KP. The effect of clean cooking interventions on mother and child personal exposure to air pollution: results from the Ghana Randomized Air Pollution and Health Study (GRAPHS). JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2021; 31:683-698. [PMID: 33654272 PMCID: PMC8273075 DOI: 10.1038/s41370-021-00309-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Revised: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Clean cooking interventions to reduce air pollution exposure from burning biomass for daily cooking and heating needs have the potential to reduce a large burden of disease globally. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study is to evaluate the air pollution exposure impacts of a fan-assisted efficient biomass-burning cookstove and a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) stove intervention in rural Ghana. METHODS We randomized 1414 households in rural Ghana with pregnant mothers into a control arm (N = 526) or one of two clean cooking intervention arms: a fan-assisted efficient biomass-burning cookstove (N = 527) or an LPG stove and cylinder refills as needed (N = 361). We monitored personal maternal carbon monoxide (CO) at baseline and six times after intervention and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure twice after intervention. Children received three CO exposure monitoring sessions. RESULTS We obtained 5655 48-h maternal CO exposure estimates and 1903 for children, as well as 1379 maternal PM2.5 exposure estimates. Median baseline CO exposures in the control, improved biomass, and LPG arms were 1.17, 1.17, and 1.30 ppm, respectively. Based on a differences-in-differences approach, the LPG arm showed a 47% reduction (95% confidence interval: 34-57%) in mean 48-h CO exposure compared to the control arm. Mean maternal PM2.5 exposure in the LPG arm was 32% lower than the control arm during the post-intervention period (52 ± 29 vs. 77 ± 44 μg/m3). The biomass stove did not meaningfully reduce CO or PM2.5 exposure. CONCLUSIONS We show that LPG interventions lowered air pollution exposure significantly compared to three-stone fires. However, post-intervention exposures still exceeded health-relevant targets. SIGNIFICANCE In a large controlled trial of cleaner cooking interventions, an LPG stove and fuel intervention reduced air pollution exposure in a vulnerable population in a low-resource setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven N Chillrud
- Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, Palisades, NY, USA
| | | | - Carlos F Gould
- Department of Environmental Health Science, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Seth Owusu-Agyei
- Kintampo Health Research Centre, Ghana Health Service, Kintampo, Ghana
- Institute of Health Research, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana
| | - Mohammed Mujtaba
- Kintampo Health Research Centre, Ghana Health Service, Kintampo, Ghana
| | - Grace Manu
- Kintampo Health Research Centre, Ghana Health Service, Kintampo, Ghana
| | - Katrin Burkart
- Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Patrick L Kinney
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ashlinn Quinn
- Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Darby W Jack
- Department of Environmental Health Science, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kwaku Poku Asante
- Kintampo Health Research Centre, Ghana Health Service, Kintampo, Ghana
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Enhancing LPG Adoption in Ghana (ELAG): A Trial Testing Policy-Relevant Interventions to Increase Sustained Use of Clean Fuels. SUSTAINABILITY 2021; 13. [PMID: 34765257 PMCID: PMC8580155 DOI: 10.3390/su13042213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Rural Ghanaians rely on solid biomass fuels for their cooking. National efforts to promote the Sustainable Development Goals include the Rural Liquefied Petroleum Gas Promotion Program (RLP), which freely distributes LPG stoves, but evaluations have demonstrated low sustained use among recipients. Our study objective was to assess if cheap and scalable add-on interventions could increase sustained use of LPG stoves under the RLP scheme. We replicated RLP conditions among participants in 27 communities in Kintampo, Ghana, but cluster-randomized them to four add-on interventions: a behavioral intervention, fuel delivery service, combined intervention, or control. We reported on the final 6 months of a 12-month follow-up for participants (n = 778). Results demonstrated increased use for each intervention, but magnitudes were small. The direct delivery intervention induced the largest increase: 280 min over 6 months (p < 0.001), ∼1.5 min per day. Self-reported refills (a secondary outcome), support increased use for the dual intervention arm (IRR = 2.2, p = 0.026). Past literature demonstrates that recipients of clean cookstoves rarely achieve sustained use of the technologies. While these results are statistically significant, we interpret them as null given the implied persistent reliance on solid fuels. Future research should investigate if fuel subsidies would increase sustained use since current LPG promotion activities do not.
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