The health impacts of a community biogas facility in an informal Urban settlement: does training matter?. Issue 2 (3rd April 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Moncada, Stefano; Bambrick, Hilary; Briguglio, Marie
• Is Part Of: Journal of development effectiveness. Volume 11:Issue 2(2019)
• Page Start: 189
• Page End: 202
• Publication Date: 2019-04-03
• Subjects: Training -- biogas -- health -- foreign aid -- propensity score matching; Economic development -- Periodicals; Developing countries -- Economic conditions -- Periodicals; Economic development; Economic history; Developing countries; Periodicals; 338.91724
• DOI: 10.1080/19439342.2019.1638434
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1943-9342

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Community biogas facilities are being implemented in many informal urban settlements across Africa, often funded by foreign aid. We measured the public health impacts of a facility in Ethiopia, particularly the effects of training, in the context of extreme poverty. Two waves of panel-data were generated by household surveys (N = 200 per wave), informed by participatory focus groups, and a propensity-score matching technique was applied. After controlling for household distance from the facility, training itself generated positive effects on health including use of improved sanitation facilities and self-assessed health. We conclude that training should be considered a key component in biogas development.