Consumer Behavior
Conditions
Brief summary
The aim of the Adoption study is to determine how best to encourage people to adopt clean cookstoves in order to diminish the global health risk of household air pollution. The study harnesses an existing cohort in Ghana to study factors that increase the adoption of clean cookstoves, and to test strategies to promote adoption and continued use. Limited past research has shown that the demand for clean cookstoves is low, and that households continue to use traditional hearths even when they have clean cookstoves. This behavior threatens to undermine clean cookstove intervention programs, such as those promoted by the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves. The proposed study aims to ascertain the demand curve for liquified petroleum gas (LPG) in the Kintampo North Municipality and South district.
Detailed description
The study will assess if demand for LPG in rural settings in Ghana is price elastic - and by how much - by providing different levels of LPG price subsidies. It will also ascertain if demand is influenced by distance by allocating participants to varying distances to points of LPG supply. Finally, it will assess factors that could affect the demand for LPG such as availability and price of other fuels for cooking, and income levels. In particular the objectives of the study are: 1. To determine if demand for LPG is price elastic 2. To determine if demand for LPG is influenced by distance 3. To ascertain what other factors aside the price of LPG, and distance to point of LPG supply, determine the demand for LPG 4. To document the successes and challenges of introducing a subsidy for LPG in rural settings
Interventions
BEHAVIORALLPG subsidy
Different subsidy rates, ranging between 0% and 100% (listed below) will be written on cards. Individuals will randomly select a card to display the subsidy rate for each household. The card will be concealed with a scratch-off sticker, with a higher likelihood of drawing a high price (low subsidy) than a low price (high subsidy) given that take up will be higher in the latter group.
BEHAVIORALDistance allocation
We will set up fuel supply depots to increase the convenience and lower costs and hassle associated with traveling to an established filling station. The supply depots will mirror a recirculation model of LPG distribution currently being piloted by the National Petroleum Authority of Ghana. Households will be randomly assigned to one of the supply depots in advance or to continue refilling their cylinder at the filling station.
Sponsors
Kintampo Health Research Centre, Ghana
University of California, Santa Barbara
Columbia University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
FACTORIAL
Primary purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE
Masking description
Prices and locations were public information.
Intervention model description
Participants were randomized to 5 price levels and to 5 LPG cylinder exchange depots, for a total of 25 possible location/price combinations. Additionally, participants were enrolled into 4 arms (see arms description).
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Female * 18 years of age or older * Primary cook of the household * Part of the Ghana Randomized Air Pollution and Health Study (GRAPHS) sample or reside in a sample village * Owns an LPG stove and cylinder (provided by the project in the case of newly recruited households)
Exclusion criteria
\- Temporarily residing in study area.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Demand for LPG | 6 months | The primary outcome will be measured by the number of LPG cylinder purchases and/or refills by the study participant. |
Countries
Ghana, United States
Outcome results
None listed