Energy Poverty, Burns and Health Risks in the Port Harcourt Metropolis, Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25159/2957-3645/11429Keywords:
energy poverty, burns injury, artisanal refining, suburban neighbourhood, Burns CentreAbstract
In the study, we examined the link between energy poverty and burns incidents among low-income suburban residents in the Port Harcourt Metropolis in Nigeria. Energy poverty manifests in many ways in low-income suburban areas. This includes frequent power outages, scarcity, the high cost of petroleum products and electricity, and the use of cooking systems devoid of energy efficiency. The residents respond to these challenges in ways that compromise their health and safety, resulting in preventable morbidity and mortality. In the study, we undertook a retrospective review of patients at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital Burns Centre. Burns incidents and fatalities from 2015 to 2021 were analysed with a focus on age, mortality, gender, causes of the injury and areas of residence. The results revealed that about 177 cases (48%) were caused by kerosene explosion. Flames from the ignition of fuel stored at home for power generating sets and from artisanal oil refining sites accounted for 113 cases (17%). Flames from candles for lighting during periods of power outages comprised 24 cases (4%). Fire caused by electricity constituted 28 cases (4%). Gas explosions caused by ignorance and poor housing conditions accounted for 177 cases (27%). The mortality coefficient of burns of 0.5 implies that at least five deaths resulted from every 10 cases of burns recorded in the hospital. In the study, we recommend that government implement policy on energy access and equitable distribution more vigorously to enable poor households to meet their energy needs in relatively safe and less risky ways.
References
Abubakar, I., Dalglish, S. L., Angell, B., Sanuade, O., Abimbola, S., Adamu, A. L., . . . & Zanna, F. H. (2022). The Lancet Nigeria commission: Investing in health and the future of the nation. Lancet, 399(10330), 1155–1200. https://www.thelancet.com/article/S0140-6736(21)02488-0/fulltext
Adebayo, M. A., & Akinyosoye, T. O. (2021) Factors influencing electronic medical record systems success in selected tertiary healthcare facilities in South-West, Nigeria. Information Impact: Journal of Information and Knowledge Management, 11(4), 14–32, https://doi.org/10.4314/iijikm.v12i1.2
Ahachi, C. N., Fadeyibi, I. O., Abikoye, F. O., Chira, M. K., Ugburo, A. O., & Ademiluyi, S. A. (2011). The direct hospitalization cost of care for acute burns in Lagos, Nigeria: A one-year prospective study. Annals of Burns and Fire Disasters, 24(2), 94. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3230155/
Ashagidigbi, W. M., Babatunde, B. A., Ogunniyi, A. I., Olagunju, K. O., & Omotayo, A. O. (2020). Estimation and determinants of multidimensional energy poverty among households in Nigeria. Sustainability, 12(18), 7332. Retrieved from https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/18/7332#
Banerjee, S., & Shumba, C. (2020). A systematic review of epidemiological patterns and proposed interventions to address pediatric burns in Nigeria. African Health Sciences, 20(2), 991–999. https://doi.org/10.4314/ahs.v20i2.56
Boehm, D., & Menke, H. (2021). A history of fluid management—From “one size fits all” to an individualized fluid therapy in burn resuscitation. Medicina, 57(2), 187.
Brink, C., Isaacs, Q., Scriba, M. F., Nathire, M. E. H., Rode, H., & Martinez, R. (2019). Infant burns: A single institution retrospective review. Burns, 45(7), 1518–1527.
Chinweuba, A. U., Chinweuba, I. S., Diorgu, F. C., Ubochi, N. E., Ezeruigbo, C. S., Wasini, K. B., & Nnabuenyi, A. I. (2021). Economic burden of moderate to severe burns and its association with health-related quality of life of Nigerian women. BMC Women’s Health, 21(1), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-021-01232-5
Chipango, E. F. (2018). Reinterpreting energy poverty in Zimbabwe: a scalar perspective. Journal of Political Ecology, 25(1), 205–220. https://doi.org/10.2458/v25i1.22964
Chipango, E. F. (2021). Beyond utilitarian economics: A capability approach to energy poverty and social suffering. Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, 22(3), 446–467. https://doi.org/10.1080/19452829.2021.1871594
Culver, L. C. (2017, May). Energy poverty: What you measure matters. In Proceedings of the reducing energy poverty with natural gas: Changing political, business and technology paradigms symposium, Stanford, CA, USA (pp. 9–10) Retrieved from https://ngid9.sites.stanford.edu/sites/g/files/sbiybj22011/files/media/file/NGI_Metrics_LitReview%282-17%29.pdf
Day, R., Walker, G., & Simcock, N. (2016). Conceptualising energy use and energy poverty using a capabilities framework. Energy Policy, 93, 255–264. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2016.03.019
Datubo-Brown, D. D., & Kejeh, B. M. (1989). Burn injuries in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Burns, 15(3), 152–154. https://doi.org/10.1016/0305-4179(89)90170-8
Díaz-Vásquez, M. A., Díaz-Manchay, R. J., León-Jiménez, F. E., Thompson, L. M., Troncoso, K., & Failoc-Rojas, V. E. (2020). Adoption and impact of improved cookstoves in Lambayeque, Peru, 2017. Global Health Promotion, 27(4), 123–130.
Edoumiekumo, S. G., Tombofa, S. S., & Karimo, T. M. (2013). Multidimensional energy poverty in the South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria. Journal of Economics and Sustainable Development, 4(20), 96–103. Retrieved from https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/234646188.pdf
Egboboh, C. (2022, January 6) Sluggish electricity metering programme create path to extort and frustrate Nigerians. Business Day. https://businessday.ng/news/article/sluggish-electricity-metering-program-creates-path-to-extort-frustrate-nigerians/
Energy Commission of Nigeria. (2014). National energy masterplan draft revised edition. Retrieved from https://rise.esmap.org/data/files/library/nigeria/Clean%20Cooking/Supporting%20Documentation/Nigeria_National%20Energy%20Master%20Plan%20Draft.pdf
Energy Sector Management Assistance Program. (2022) Tracking SDG 7: The energy progress report. Retrieved from https://trackingsdg7.esmap.org/data/files/download-documents/sdg7-report2022-executive_summary.pdf
Foale, J. M., Giusti, A., & Mastorakos, E. (2019). Numerical investigation of lean blow-out of kerosene spray flames with detailed chemical models. In AIAA Scitech 2019 Forum (p. 2239).
Forbinake, N. A., Ohandza, C. S., Fai, K. N., Agbor, V. N., Asonglefac, B. K., Aroke, D., & Beyiha, G. (2020). Mortality analysis of burns in a developing country: A Cameroonian experience. BMC Public Health, 20(1), 1–6. https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-020-09372-3
Francioli, A. P. (2020). Energy use strategies and implications for fire risk amongst low-income households. Jàmbá: Journal of Disaster Risk Studies, 12(1).
Goldemberg, J., La Rovere, E. L., Coelho, S. T., Simões, A. F., Peres, S., Guardabassi, P., et al. (2013). Energy poverty in developing countries’ urban poor communities: Assessments and recommendations: Case study Brazil. Copenhagen: GNESD. http://gbio.webhostusp.sti.usp.br/sites/default/files/anexospaginas/1560168145_14.pdf
Herrero, S. T. (2017). Energy poverty indicators: A critical review of methods. Indoor and Built Environment, 26(7), 1018–1031. https://doi.org/10.1177/1420326X17718054
Hillerbrand, R. (2018). Why affordable clean energy is not enough. A capability perspective on the sustainable development goals. Sustainability, 10(7), 2485. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10072485
Ibeanusi, S. E., & Kejeh, B. (2018) Burns care in sub-Saharan Africa: Experience from a trauma registry in Nigeria—An observational study. Nigerian Journal of Orthopaedics and Trauma, 17(1), 29–33. https://doi.org/10.4103/njot.njot_8_18
Ibeanusi, S. E., & Wichendu, P. N. (2017) Factors influencing mortality and outcome of burns from a trauma registry in Nigeria: A retrospective study. Journal of Advances in Medicine and Medical Research, 22(5), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.9734/JAMMR/2017/34268
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and The World Bank. (2022). Tracking SDG 7: The energy progress report. Retrieved from https://sun-connect.org/wp-content/uploads/sdg7-report2022-full_report_compressed.pdf
Jeschke, M. G., Van Baar, M. E., Choudhry, M. A., Chung, K. K., Gibran, N. S., & Logsetty, S. (2020) Burn injury. Nature Reviews Disease Primers, 6(1), 1–25. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41572-020-0145-5
Kejeh, B. M., Ovusike, A. K., Gbeneol, T. J., Amirize, E. E., & Aranmolate, S. (2017) Burns injuries in Port Harcourt, South-South, Nigeria. Pan African Burns Society Conference 2017. Retrieved from http://www.panafricanburns.org/static/uploaded/Files/documents/Day%201%20Presentations/Kejeh-Burns-in-Port-Harcourt.pdf
Lee, J., Kim, H., & Byrne, J. (2021). Operationalising capability thinking in the assessment of energy poverty relief policies: Moving from compensation-based to empowerment-focused policy strategies. Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, 22(2), 292–315. https://doi.org/10.1080/19452829.2021.1887108
Lin, B., & Okyere, M. A. (2020). Multidimensional energy poverty and mental health: Micro-level evidence from Ghana. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(18), 6726. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17186726
Melin, A., Day, R., & Jenkins, K. E. (2021). Energy justice and the capability approach: Introduction to the Special Issue. Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, 22(2), 185–196. https://doi.org/10.1080/19452829.2021.1909546
Middlemiss, L., Ambrosio-Albalá, P., Emmel, N., Gillard, R., Gilbertson, J., Hargreaves, T., . . . & Tod, A. (2019). Energy poverty and social relations: A capabilities approach. Energy Research and Social Science, 55, 227–235.
Mohan, G. (2021). Young, poor, and sick: The public health threat of energy poverty for children in Ireland. Energy Research & Social Science, 71, 101822. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2020.101822
Nnadozie, U. U., Maduba, C. C., Okorie, G. M., Lawani, L. O., Chidebe, A. C., Asiegbu, O., & Ugbala, A. (2021). Burns in pregnancy: Five-year experience in a tertiary hospital in southeastern Nigeria. Malawi Medical Journal, 33(3), 204–209. https://doi.org/10.4314/mmj.v33i3.8
Nussbaum, M. C. (2000). Women and human development: Capabilities approach (Vol. 3). Cambridge University Press.
Ogbonna, D. N., Ogbuku, J., Ngah, S., & Ayotamuno, A. (2021). Public health problems associated with informal settlements around waterfront communities in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Current Journal of Applied Science and Technology, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.9734/CJAST/2021/v40i3231552
Ogwumike, F. O., & Ozughalu, U. M. (2016). Analysis of energy poverty and its implications for sustainable development in Nigeria. Environment and Development Economics, 21(3), 273–290. Retrieved from https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/environment-and-development-economics/article/analysis-of-energy-poverty-and-its-implications-for-sustainable-development-in-nigeria/D4C0E08C0BF3B104B6BE5E6FF4D733FE
Oladele, A. O., & Olabanji, J. K. (2010). Burns in Nigeria: A review. Annals of Burns and Fire Disasters, 23(3), 120. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3188264/
Ozughalu, U. M., & Ogwumike, F. O. (2019). Extreme energy poverty incidence and determinants in Nigeria: A multidimensional approach. Social Indicators Research, 142(3), 997–1014.
Pan, L., Biru, A., & Lettu, S. (2021). Energy poverty and public health: Global evidence. Energy Economics, 101, 105423. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eneco.2021.105423
Ritchie, H. (2021). What are the safest and cleanest sources of energy. Our World Data. Retrieved from https://ourworldindata.org/safest-sources-of-energy
Sovacool, B. K. (2012). The political economy of energy poverty: A review of key challenges. Energy for Sustainable Development, 16(3), 272–282. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esd.2012.05.006
Sovacool, B. K., & Dworkin, M. H. (2015). Energy justice: Conceptual insights and practical applications. Applied Energy, 142, 435–444. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2015.01.002
Sovacool, B. K., & Mukherjee, I. (2011). Conceptualizing and measuring energy security: A synthesized approach. Energy, 36(8), 5343–5355. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2011.06.043
Thomson, H., Snell, C., & Bouzarovski, S. (2017). Health, well-being and energy poverty in Europe: A comparative study of 32 European countries. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14(6), 584. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14060584
United Nations Development Programme. (2021). Annual report; Facts and figures. Retrieved from https://www.undp.org/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/2022-06/undp-annual-report-2021.pdf
UNHCR Africa. (2021). Energy. Retrieved from https://www.unhcr.org/energy.html
Wasiak, J., Lee, S. J., Paul, E., Shen, A., Tan, H., Cleland, H., & Gabbe, B. (2017). Female patients display poorer burn-specific quality of life 12 months after a burn injury. Injury, 48(1), 87–93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.injury.2016.07.032
Wood, N., & Roelich, K. (2019). Tensions, capabilities, and justice in climate change mitigation of fossil fuels. Energy Research & Social Science, 52, 114–122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2019.02.014
World Health Organization. (2018). Burns fact sheet. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/burns