Impacts of Traditional Cooking Fuels on the Prevalence of Ailments in India

Abstract

This article examines the impact of the use of traditional cooking fuels on health using India Human Development Survey and National Sample Survey Organisation health expenditure data. Analyses reveal that the use of traditional fuel is significantly associated with the prevalence of short-term and long-term ailments. Subsequently, probit estimation is used to measure how the socio-economic and demographic factors influence the prevalence of short-term and long-term ailments due to the use of cooking fuels. It was found that if a household has a separate kitchen, the possibility of its members suffering diseases is lower than the households which do not have a separate one. Further, if a household uses improved chulha with the traditional fuel, the prevalence of diseases will be lesser vis-à-vis the usage of traditional chulha with the traditional fuel.