Regional disparities and socio-demographic determinants of clean cooking energy use among women in Nigeria

Abstract

This study examines regional disparities and socio-demographic factors influencing clean cooking energy use among women in Nigeria. Utilizing data from the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, we analyzed a sample of 41,256 women aged 15-49. Our analysis reveals marked regional disparities, with the southwest showing the highest clean cooking energy use at 42.88% and the northeast the lowest at 1.32%. Bivariate analysis indicates that women in the South-South (COR: 2.31, 95% CI: 2.06-2.58, p < 0.001) and South-West (COR: 7.21, 95% CI: 6.53-7.97, p < 0.001) are significantly more likely to use clean energy compared to those in the North-Central. Multivariable logistic regression identifies wealth (AOR: 234.37, 95% CI: 96.89-566.92, p < 0.001), education (AOR: 5.30, 95% CI: 4.25-6.62, p < 0.001), and urban residence (AOR: 0.59, 95% CI: 0.53-0.65, p < 0.001) as significant determinants of clean cooking energy use. These findings highlight the need for targeted policies to address regional and socio-demographic disparities and promote equitable access to clean cooking energy across Nigeria