Impact of Multidimensional Energy Poverty and Climate Shocks on Health and Nutritional Outcomes: Evidence from KDHS 2022

Boscow Okumu, African Population and Health Research Center
Mary Karumba, The National Treasury and Economic Planning, Kenya

Access to modern sources of energy is critical to socioeconomic development. Energy poverty has therefore been associated with prevalence of some human health conditions and wellbeing. These conditions could be worsened by climate shocks. Using DHS 2022 data for Kenya, this study sought assess the impact of multidimensional energy poverty and climate shocks on child and household multidimensional health poverty. Using an instrumental variable approach, the study revealed that energy poverty has a positive and significant effect on household health poverty and an even a more pronounced effect on child health poverty. The study also revealed that temperature shocks has a positive and significant effect on household health poverty with an even higher effect on child health poverty. However, rainfall shocks were found to have significant negative effect on both household and child health poverty with a lower effect on child health poverty. Policy recommendations are also highlighted.