IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v19y2022i14p8252-d856889.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Tap Water Consumption Is Associated with Schoolchildren’s Cognitive Deficits in Afghanistan

Author

Listed:
  • Abdullah Shinwari

    (Department of Public Health, Nangarhar Medical College, Nangarhar University, Jalalabad 2601, Afghanistan
    CEREGE, Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, IRD, College de France, INRAe, Europôle Méditerranéen de l’Arbois, BP80, CEDEX 4, 13545 Aix en Provence, France)

  • Alain Véron

    (CEREGE, Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, IRD, College de France, INRAe, Europôle Méditerranéen de l’Arbois, BP80, CEDEX 4, 13545 Aix en Provence, France)

  • Mohammad Haris Abdianwall

    (Department of Public Health, Nangarhar Medical College, Nangarhar University, Jalalabad 2601, Afghanistan)

  • Elisabeth Jouve

    (Service d’Evaluation Médicale, Assistance Publique—Hôpitaux Marseille, 13005 Marseille, France)

  • Remi Laporte

    (Equipe d’Accueil 3279-Centre d’Études et de Recherche sur les Services de Santé et la Qualité de Vie (CEReSS), Aix Marseille University, Laboratoire de Santé Publique, Faculté de Médecine, 27 Boulevard Jean Moulin, CEDEX 5, 13385 Marseille, France)

Abstract

Environmental influence on intelligence quotient (IQ) is poorly understood in developing countries. We conducted the first cross-sectional investigation to assess the role of socio-economic and environmental factors on schoolchildren’s IQ in Jalalabad, Afghanistan. A representative sample of 245 schoolchildren aged 7–15 was randomly selected in five schools. Children’s records included: non-verbal IQ TONI-1 scale, body mass index, socio-economic status, and further environmental indicators (water supply, proximity to a heavy-traffic road, use of surma traditional cosmetics). The mean age of the children was 11.7 years old (±2.0 years), and 70.2% and 29.8% were male and female, respectively. The children’s mean IQ was 83.8 (±12.6). In total, 37 (14.9%) of the children were overweight, 78 (31.5%) were living below the USD 1.25 poverty line, 133 (53.6%) used tap water supply, 76 (30.6%) used surma, and 166 (66.9%) were exposed to heavy road traffic. The children’s IQ was significantly and independently lowered by tap water use (−3.9; 95% CI [−7.1; −0.6]) and by aging (−1.4; 95% CI [−2.2; −0.6]), as revealed in multivariate analysis, independently of gender, socio-economic status, exposure to heavy road traffic, overweight status, and surma use. Lower IQ among older children is possibly attributed to chronic stress experienced by adolescents due to living conditions in Afghanistan. While using tap water prevents fecal peril, it may expose children to toxic elements such as lead which is known to lower their intellectual development.

Suggested Citation

  • Abdullah Shinwari & Alain Véron & Mohammad Haris Abdianwall & Elisabeth Jouve & Remi Laporte, 2022. "Tap Water Consumption Is Associated with Schoolchildren’s Cognitive Deficits in Afghanistan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-12, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:14:p:8252-:d:856889
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/14/8252/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/14/8252/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Aart Kraay, 2019. "The World Bank Human Capital Index: A Guide," The World Bank Research Observer, World Bank, vol. 34(1), pages 1-33.
    2. T. A. Downes & D. N. Figlio, "undated". "School Finance Reforms, Tax Limits, and Student Performance: Do Reforms Level Up or Dumb Down?," Institute for Research on Poverty Discussion Papers 1142-97, University of Wisconsin Institute for Research on Poverty.
    3. Korenman, Sanders & Miller, Jane E. & Sjaastad, John E., 1995. "Long-term poverty and child development in the United States: Results from the NLSY," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 17(1-2), pages 127-155.
    4. Guy Hutton & Claire Chase, 2016. "The Knowledge Base for Achieving the Sustainable Development Goal Targets on Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-35, May.
    5. Tania Jordanova & Ryan Cronk & Wanda Obando & Octavio Zeledon Medina & Rinko Kinoshita & Jamie Bartram, 2015. "Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene in Schools in Low Socio-Economic Regions in Nicaragua: A Cross-Sectional Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-21, May.
    6. Sangeeta Goyal, 2009. "Inside the house of learning: the relative performance of public and private schools in Orissa," Education Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 17(3), pages 315-327.
    7. Jean-Francois Trani & Mario Biggeri & Vincenzo Mauro, 2013. "The Multidimensionality of Child Poverty: Evidence from Afghanistan," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 112(2), pages 391-416, June.
    8. Thapa, Amrit, 2013. "Does private school competition improve public school performance? The case of Nepal," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 33(4), pages 358-366.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Aftab Ahmad, 2020. "Poverty Terrorism Nexus: A Case Study Of Pakistan," Bulletin of Business and Economics (BBE), Research Foundation for Humanity (RFH), vol. 9(4), pages 162-172, December.
    2. Raymond Lang & Marguerite Schneider & Maria Kett & Ellie Cole & Nora Groce, 2019. "Policy development: An analysis of disability inclusion in a selection of African Union policies," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 37(2), pages 155-175, March.
    3. Dahal,Mahesh & Nguyen,Quynh T., 2014. "Private non-state sector engagement in the provision of educational services at the primary and secondary levels in South Asia : an analytical review of its role in school enrollment and student achie," Policy Research Working Paper Series 6899, The World Bank.
    4. Natalia Krüger & María Marta Formichella, 2018. "Oportunidades educativas reducidas para niños y jóvenes en barrios informales de Bahía Blanca, Argentina," Ensayos de Política Económica, Departamento de Investigación Francisco Valsecchi, Facultad de Ciencias Económicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina., vol. 2(6), pages 71-92, Octubre.
    5. Kelly, Orla & Krishna, Aditi & Bhabha, Jacqueline, 2016. "Private schooling and gender justice: An empirical snapshot from Rajasthan, India's largest state," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 175-187.
    6. Martin Dooley & Jennifer Stewart, 2004. "Family income and child outcomes in Canada," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 37(4), pages 898-917, November.
    7. Eric Brunner & Joshua Hyman & Andrew Ju, 2020. "School Finance Reforms, Teachers' Unions, and the Allocation of School Resources," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 102(3), pages 473-489, July.
    8. Geeta Gandhi Kingdon, 2020. "The Private Schooling Phenomenon in India: A Review," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 56(10), pages 1795-1817, October.
    9. Simon Burgess & Carol Propper & John A. Rigg, 2004. "The Impact of Low Income on Child Health: Evidence from a Birth Cohort Study," CASE Papers 085, Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion, LSE.
    10. Noam Angrist & Matthew C. H. Jukes & Sian Clarke & R. Matthew Chico & Charles Opondo & Donald Bundy & Lauren M. Cohee, 2023. "School-based malaria chemoprevention as a cost-effective approach to improve cognitive and educational outcomes: a meta-analysis," Papers 2303.10684, arXiv.org.
    11. repec:pri:crcwel:wp11-02-ff is not listed on IDEAS
    12. Erdal Asker & Eric J. Brunner & Stephen L. Ross, 2022. "The Impact of School Spending on Civic Engagement: Evidence from School Finance Reforms," Working papers 2022-16, University of Connecticut, Department of Economics.
    13. Justina A.V. Fischer, 2005. "Do Institutions of Direct Democracy Tame the Leviathan? Swiss Evidence on the Structure of Expenditure for Public Education," University of St. Gallen Department of Economics working paper series 2005 2005-22, Department of Economics, University of St. Gallen.
    14. Servaas van der Berg & Chris van Wyk & Ronelle Burger & Janeli Kotzé & Marlies Piek & Kate Rich, 2017. "The performance of low fee independent schools in South Africa - What can available data tell?," Working Papers 01/2017, Stellenbosch University, Department of Economics.
    15. Phipps , Shelley & Curtis, Laurie & Dooley , Martin, 2002. "Qui a raison des parents ou des enfants? Evaluation de l'accord des parents et des enfants dans l'Enquete longitudinale nationale sur les enfants et les jeunes," Direction des études analytiques : documents de recherche 2002181f, Statistics Canada, Direction des études analytiques.
    16. Pauline Dixon, 2012. "Why the Denial? Low-Cost Private Schools in Developing Countries and Their Contributions to Education," Econ Journal Watch, Econ Journal Watch, vol. 9(3), pages 186-209, September.
    17. Phipps , Shelley & Curtis, Laurie & Dooley , Martin, 2002. "Does Parent or Child Know Best? an Assessment of Parent/Child Agreement in the Canadian National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth," Analytical Studies Branch Research Paper Series 2002181e, Statistics Canada, Analytical Studies Branch.
    18. C. Kirabo Jackson & Rucker C. Johnson & Claudia Persico, 2016. "The Effects of School Spending on Educational and Economic Outcomes: Evidence from School Finance Reforms," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 131(1), pages 157-218.
    19. Kaestner, Robert & Grossman, Michael, 2009. "Effects of weight on children's educational achievement," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 28(6), pages 651-661, December.
    20. Pelenc, Jérôme, 2014. "Combining the capability approach and Max-Neef’s needs approach for a better assessment of multidimensional well-being and inequalities: a case study perspective with vulnerable teenagers of the regio," MPRA Paper 66277, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    21. Jorge A. Paz, 2018. "Vulneración de derechos materiales de niñas y niños en la Argentina. Nivel, estructura y brechas entre unidades subnacionales," Ensayos de Política Económica, Departamento de Investigación Francisco Valsecchi, Facultad de Ciencias Económicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina., vol. 2(6), pages 93-125, Octubre.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:14:p:8252-:d:856889. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.