Household Energy Consumption and Indoor Air Pollution in Bayelsa State: Analysis Of 2018 Nigeria Demographic Health Survey

Abstract

Household energy consumption and indoor air pollution have caused significant environmental and health issues. However, previous studies have mainly focused on energy sources, overlooking differences in their impact based on the rural-urban divide, especially in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. This study conducted a comparative analysis of energy consumption and indoor air pollution between rural and urban households in Bayelsa State, using energy choice theory as the framework. A cross-sectional survey design was adopted, with a sample of 1004 households drawn from the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS): 266 urban and 738 rural households. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics and Chi-Square tests at P<0.05. The average age of household heads was 44.64±16.02 years in urban areas and 44.29±15.82 years in rural areas. The results showed that more rural households (59.3%) used wood for cooking, while kerosene use was higher in urban areas (39.1%). Urban households also had a greater proportion (24.8%) of those cooking indoors, compared to rural households (16.1%). There was a statistically significant relationship between energy use and indoor air pollution in rural (x²=195.705) and urban (x²=97.12) households. The study concluded that households without a separate kitchen, regardless of location, are at greater risk of indoor air pollution. It was recommended that stakeholders raise awareness of the importance of separate kitchens and support the adoption of cleaner cooking fuels.