DelAgua Health and Development, Manna Energy and the Rwanda Ministry of Health are collaborating on a project financed by carbon credits that will distribute household-based water filters and high-efficiency cook stoves to approximately 600,000 households in Rwanda. Prior to the full roll out of the campaign, the implementers are conducting research in connection with a distribution among 2000 households in western Rwanda. The objective of this matched cohort study (Phase 1B)are to investigate whether the filters and stoves delivered in October 2012 are still performing and in use, to determine whether they are associated with reductions in exposure to pathogens from drinking water and stoves, and to assembly information on health and other conditions necessary for the design of a large scale health impact evaluation.

Households will be eligible to participate in the study if they reside in selected villages and are willing to participate after receiving complete details regarding the study. Intervention households must have a functioning stove and water filter in order to participate, though they do not need to be in regular use. We will enroll all households with a child under 5 years of age if they are in Ubudehe groups 1 or 2.

Lower income (ubudehe groups 1 and 2) householders from 18 villages (9 intervention and matched controls) in 11 designated Districts in Rwanda: Rutsiro, Karongi, Ngororero, Nyamasheke, Nyabihu Districts of Western Province (excluding part of the district to the north of the Ruhengeri road); Rubuvu District (excluding part of the district to the north of the Ruhengeri road); Nyaruguru, Nyamagabe, Muhanga, and Ruhango Districts in Southern Province; Gakenke District in Northern Province.