Energy Preferences for Household Cooking in Burundi

Abstract

In this study, we aimed to investigate use patterns and determinants of household fuel in Burundi. There is limited information in the open literature on the uses and determinants of household fuel in Burundi. In the study, we employed data on Burundi’s most recent Demographic and Health Surveys, with the data subjected to descriptive and inferential statistics. The results indicated that 11.9% of the sampled households had access to electricity. About 86.3% of the respondents in the rural communities relied on firewood for cooking, whereas 67.2% of households in the urban setting relied on charcoal for cooking. Electricity was used across the wealth stratum regardless of income levels. Firewood was used across the wealth stratum, albeit with higher consumption recorded from the poorest to the richer wealth stratum. The chi-square analysis revealed a statistically significant relationship between the place of residence, electricity access and cooking fuel type. Multiple regression analysis results indicated that the type of residence, gender of household head, age of household head, wealth index, and highest education level influence the cooking fuel used. These results have implications for household cooking fuel policies and sustainability, and it is recommended that the government invest in improved cooking stoves and clean fuels such as LPG and biogas.