DOES SOCIO-CULTURAL FACTOR DETERMINE

BIOMASS FUELS USE IN MARGINALISED AREAS OF

NIGERIA?

Oluwakemi Akintan| School of Geography| University of Nottingham

MEGS Christmas Event, University of Birmingham, UK| 15th December 2010

BackgroundBiomass fuels – (wood, charcoal, animal dung, agricultural wastes, sawdust) are used by about 80% of the rural populace in developing countries for cooking, heating and lighting

(Ezzati, 2005; Smith et al. 2003)

Aim of the study

Is to unravel the socio-cultural factors underlying the use of

biomass fuel in peri-urban areas of Nigeria.

Methodology

On-Site observation

Qualitative method – interviews

Preliminary Findings‘...our forefathers made use of firewood

to cook and light their houses; they even lived longer than this present

generation...’ HH 1

‘...the pollution we suffer is not from the fuel wood, it is nature (breeze) that

brings the pollution...’ HH 3

Cont..

‘...cooking with sacred trees causes still birth or abortion

among women...’ HH 5

‘...this is all that we know in cooking our food. It is fast in cooking and very

convenient for us...’HH 7

Cont..

ImpactPoor Air Quality

ImpactAccumulation of soot in homes

Conclusion

Existing beliefs and norms in communities is vital in

understanding indoor air pollution: Guide for Appropriate

Technology/Intervention

Thank you