Assessing Clean Cooking Energy Utilization Among Households in North-Western States of Nigeria: Evidence from NDHS 2018 Data

Abstract

The use of clean cooking fuels is crucial for enhancing public health and environmental sustainability. However, in many low-income regions, including North-Western Nigeria, the reliance on unclean fuels remains high, contributing to adverse health outcomes and environmental degradation. This study assesses the utilization of clean energy and identifies household factors influencing the adoption of clean cooking fuels among households in North-Western Nigeria, while analysing disparities across states. Data from the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) were analyzed, focusing on the household recode (HR) file, resulting in a sample of 9,509 households across Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, and Kaduna state. Descriptive statistics and bivariate analysis were employed to assess the proportion of households using clean versus unclean cooking fuels and to identify sociodemographic factors associated with clean fuel usage. The analysis revealed that approximately 95% of households relied on unclean fuels, such as wood, kerosene, and charcoal, while only 5% used clean fuels, including electricity and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). Significant variations were observed among the states, with Kano having the highest proportion of clean fuel usage at 8.87%, while Sokoto had the lowest at 0.42%. Wealth, educational attainment, and urban residence were strong predictors of clean fuel use. These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions to promote the adoption of clean cooking fuels in North-Western Nigeria, addressing barriers to usage and improving access to clean energy sources to enhance public health and environmental sustainability.