Cost Saving and Resource Limited Solar Light Intervention in Rural Philippines
Location
D.P. Culp Center Ballroom
Start Date
4-5-2024 9:00 AM
End Date
4-5-2024 11:30 AM
Poster Number
24
Name of Project's Faculty Sponsor
Amy Wahlquist
Faculty Sponsor's Department
Biostatistics and Epidemiology
Competition Type
Competitive
Type
Poster Presentation
Presentation Category
Health
Abstract or Artist's Statement
Introduction Access to safe light is a basic life necessity and without it, an individual's safety, income, health, and education may suffer. When electricity is not readily available many households rely on kerosene lamps which have negative effects on the body and the environment. Lack of electricity causes many challenges for families, such as decreased time for studying for children, and less productivity for adults. Watts of Love is a nonprofit organization founded by Nancy Economou to provide alternative light sources for families in poverty. The aim of this study is to assess the differences between families' outcomes before and after having access to solar light. Methods Pre- and post-intervention survey data were collected in the Occidental Mindoro region of the Philippines by Watts of Love and given to East Tennessee State University as deidentified secondary data. Fifty-five households completed the post-intervention survey and were matched with their pre-intervention survey. Descriptive statistics were identified by frequencies, percents, means and standard deviations. McNemar tests were completed to test the paired pre- and post-intervention difference. Results After the intervention 94.55% were continuing the use of the solar light (n=52), and only 1.82% (n=1) was still using kerosene as a light source. Since having access to a solar light 83.64% (n=46) of household participants reported having saved money, 98.18% (n=54) reported having enough food for their family, and 74.55% (n=41) stated their children’s grades increased. Conclusion Currently, there is a substantial gap in the literature on the impact of home lighting and health outcomes. However, access to safe light is an essential aspect to a person’s health, safety, education, and livelihood. This study demonstrates the shift in household resources after having access to solar lights. This study also serves as the foundation for future research of this kind.
Cost Saving and Resource Limited Solar Light Intervention in Rural Philippines
D.P. Culp Center Ballroom
Introduction Access to safe light is a basic life necessity and without it, an individual's safety, income, health, and education may suffer. When electricity is not readily available many households rely on kerosene lamps which have negative effects on the body and the environment. Lack of electricity causes many challenges for families, such as decreased time for studying for children, and less productivity for adults. Watts of Love is a nonprofit organization founded by Nancy Economou to provide alternative light sources for families in poverty. The aim of this study is to assess the differences between families' outcomes before and after having access to solar light. Methods Pre- and post-intervention survey data were collected in the Occidental Mindoro region of the Philippines by Watts of Love and given to East Tennessee State University as deidentified secondary data. Fifty-five households completed the post-intervention survey and were matched with their pre-intervention survey. Descriptive statistics were identified by frequencies, percents, means and standard deviations. McNemar tests were completed to test the paired pre- and post-intervention difference. Results After the intervention 94.55% were continuing the use of the solar light (n=52), and only 1.82% (n=1) was still using kerosene as a light source. Since having access to a solar light 83.64% (n=46) of household participants reported having saved money, 98.18% (n=54) reported having enough food for their family, and 74.55% (n=41) stated their children’s grades increased. Conclusion Currently, there is a substantial gap in the literature on the impact of home lighting and health outcomes. However, access to safe light is an essential aspect to a person’s health, safety, education, and livelihood. This study demonstrates the shift in household resources after having access to solar lights. This study also serves as the foundation for future research of this kind.