Estufas de leña mejoradas: una solución a la polución del aire en los hogares del campo colombiano[Improved wood stoves: a solution to air pollution in homes in the colombian rural sector]

The objective of the article is to evaluate the theoretical and empirical aspects of an intervention on Colombian households that use firewood, wood or charcoal to prepare their food. The results of the estimated multinomial logistic model indicate that the probability of using alternative fuels increases with the level of rurality, while it decreases with access to other public services. The study proposes the use of improved stoves for cooking with firewood to improve the quality of life of this population, while reducing negative impacts on the environment. From the analysis of data from the 2018 National Quality of Life Survey, a potential demand for improved wood stoves is identified from 1,680,826 households with an average income of COP 852,373 in the departments of Antioquia, Boyacá, Cauca, Córdoba, La Guajira and Nariño. The intervention proposed here can improve the empowerment process of rural women heads of low-income families, especially their time management and personal finances.