Safety knowledge, practices, and risk factors among household liquefied petroleum gas users in Nigeria

Abstract

The rapid shift from traditional biomass and kerosene to Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) for household cooking in Nigeria has raised growing safety and public health concerns due to inadequate user knowledge, poor safety practices, and weak regulatory enforcement. Understanding these safety gaps is crucial for ensuring a sustainable and risk-free transition to cleaner domestic energy use. This study assessed the safety knowledge, practices, and risk perceptions associated with household use of LPG cylinders in Nigeria, offering a public health perspective across six geopolitically representative states. A cross-sectional survey of 540 respondents, including 360 household users and 180 LPG marketers, was conducted using structured questionnaires. Descriptive statistics, Likert scale, and binary logistic regression were employed for data analysis. Findings revealed that 72.4% of users checked cylinder expiration dates, 84.3% turned off regulators when not in use, and 87.3% recognised the importance of quality LPG equipment. However, only 22.3% had received formal safety training, while 66.7% were aware of soap water leak detection. Among marketers, the highest-rated safety attitude was towards mandatory safety training (M = 4.81, SD = 0.41). Risk factors such as poor kitchen ventilation (Mean = 4.21) and substandard cylinders (Mean = 4.05) were most prominent. Logistic regression analysis identified education level (OR = 3.111, p < 0.001), fire safety awareness (OR = 2.764, p < 0.001), and hazard awareness (OR = 2.142, p = 0.011) as significant predictors of safety knowledge, while larger household size was negatively associated (OR = 0.732, p = 0.002). The study concludes that while awareness of basic LPG safety is encouraging, substantial gaps remain in formal training and regulatory compliance. Policy interventions should prioritise community-based education, stricter enforcement mechanisms, and integration of safety education into Nigeria’s LPG expansion efforts to mitigate health risks and ensure a safer energy transition.