The Role of Energy Poverty on the Gender‐Health Gap in Ghana

ABSTRACT This study explores the impact that energy poverty has on health and the gender‐health differences in Ghana. The novelty of the study lies in the use of 2SLS‐IV estimation as our identification strategy. Using micro data from the Ghana Living Standards Survey (GLSS), the study finds significant gender health differences, with female individuals reporting lower health than their male counterparts. In addition, energy poverty matters for health, as those who use cleaner forms of cooking fuel, such as gas and charcoal, are found to be healthier than their counterparts who use firewood. Furthermore, the results indicate no significant gender differences in the effect of the use of charcoal and gas compared to the use of firewood on health. Given that cleaner types of cooking fuel are less harmful for health, and since women are more exposed to this, adopting cleaner cooking fuel may reduce the health gender gap in Ghana.