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ECONOMIC AND DEMOGRAPHIC DRIVERS OF CLEAN COOKING ADOPTION: EVIDENCE FROM WOMEN IN THE USANGU PLAIN, TANZANIA
Abstract
Sustainable cooking technologies are widely recognized as essential for reducing household air pollution and mitigating climate change in Sub-Saharan Africa. Despite international policy efforts, adoption rates in rural regions remain low. This study investigates the economic and demographic determinants of cleaner cooking adoption among 625 women in the Usangu Plain, southern Tanzania. Using a structured survey dataset and a linear probability model with village fixed effects, we estimate the association between household asset ownership, education, age, and household size and the probability of using cleaner fuels (LPG, natural gas, or biogas). Results show that economic capacity is the strongest predictor of adoption. A one standard deviation increase in the welfare index is associated with an 8.8 percentage point higher probability of using cleaner fuels. Education also shows a positive association, while larger household size reduces adoption likelihood. The findings highlight the importance of structural economic constraints and suggest that policies targeting financial barriers may be more effective than awareness campaigns alone.
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References9
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