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Protecting infants from natural disasters: The case of vitamin A supplementation and a tornado in Bangladesh

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  • Gunnsteinsson, Snaebjorn
  • Molina, Teresa
  • Adhvaryu, Achyuta
  • Christian, Parul
  • Labrique, Alain
  • Sugimoto, Jonathan
  • Shamim, Abu Ahmed
  • West, Keith P.

Abstract

Environmental disasters have increased in frequency and intensity as a result of climate change. Can timely intervention help protect against the health impacts of these disasters? We study this question by leveraging data from a double-blind cluster-randomized controlled trial of at-birth vitamin A supplementation, which boosts immune system functioning, in Bangladesh. During the trial, a large tornado swept through the study area, affecting both treatment and control clusters. Tornado exposure in infancy decreased physical growth and increased the incidence of severe fevers. But infants who received supplementation were protected from these negative effects.

Suggested Citation

  • Gunnsteinsson, Snaebjorn & Molina, Teresa & Adhvaryu, Achyuta & Christian, Parul & Labrique, Alain & Sugimoto, Jonathan & Shamim, Abu Ahmed & West, Keith P., 2022. "Protecting infants from natural disasters: The case of vitamin A supplementation and a tornado in Bangladesh," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:deveco:v:158:y:2022:i:c:s0304387822000724
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jdeveco.2022.102914
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    Cited by:

    1. Cruzatti C., John & Rieger, Matthias, 2024. "Shaken, Not Stunted? Global Evidence on Natural Disasters, Child Growth and Recovery," IZA Discussion Papers 17372, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    2. Margaret Triyana & Xing Xia, 2023. "Selective Mortality and the Long‐Term Effects of Early‐Life Exposure to Natural Disasters," Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics, Department of Economics, University of Oxford, vol. 85(4), pages 773-804, August.
    3. Paulino Font-Gilabert, 2023. "Taking Cover: Human Capital Accumulation in the Presence of Shocks and Health Insurance," The World Bank Economic Review, World Bank, vol. 37(3), pages 437-459.
    4. Madeline Duhon & Lia Fernald & Joan Hamory & Edward Miguel & Eric Ochieng & Michael W. Walker, 2024. "Intergenerational Human Capital Impacts and Complementarities in Kenya," NBER Working Papers 32617, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Natural disasters; Early childhood; Climate change; Micronutrient supplementation; Vitamin A; Bangladesh;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • Q54 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Climate; Natural Disasters and their Management; Global Warming

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