Household Awareness and Knowledge on Improved Cookstoves : A Case of Kilimanjaro Region, Tanzania

Abstract

The initiatives to replace inefficient cooking stoves with improved cookstoves (ICS) in developing countries have not been successful. The available studies have given less attention to consumer’s awareness and knowledge on ICS despite the two variables being essential on the adoption decision. This study was conducted in Kilimanjaro Region, Tanzania covering 294 households to explore household awareness and knowledge on ICS and establish if awareness and knowledge differ between adopters and non adopters. The findings revealed that there were limited awareness and knowledge on the use ICS and negative opinion on efficient cooking behaviour. The Mann Whitney U test showed a significant difference (p ≤ 0.001) between adopters and non adopters on efficient cooking behaviour. On the other hand, there were no significant differences (p ≥ 0.005) between adopters and non adopters on knowledge and skills of ICS use. The study concludes that the low level of awareness and knowledge on efficient cooking behaviour and on skills in respect of application of ICS might slow down the process of making decision to adopt ICS. Additionally, low knowledge may lead to non adherence to the technical use of ICS hence failing to maximize the recommended ICS efficiency which subsequently affects the perception on ICS.