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The Impact of Drinking Water Quality and Sanitation Behavior on Child Health: Evidence from Rural Ethiopia

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  • Usman, Muhammed Abdella
  • Gerber, Nicolas
  • von Braun, Joachim

Abstract

This paper examines the impact of drinking water quality and sanitation behavior on child health in rural districts of Ethiopia. Using primary household survey data and microbiological water test for Escherichia coli, we use various estimation methods to quantify the impacts of water quality and sanitation behavior on diarrhea incidence among children under five years old. Our results show that uncontaminated household storage water and safe child stool disposal decrease incidence of child diarrhea by 16% and 23% respectively. In contrast, neighborhood concentration of pit latrine increases incidence of child diarrhea by 12%. The latter result casts serious doubt on the assumed health and social benefits of moving from open to fixed-location defecation. Creating open defecation free communities in rural areas is not enough to achieve the desired health benefits of sanitation. To protect rural households from the risk of contracting communicable diseases, existing pit latrines should be upgraded to make them safer to use – fly-proofed and hygienic. There is a need for appropriate policy actions to improve household drinking water quality and to change people’s behavior towards safe sanitation practices. Increasing access to clean water supply and providing means for safe excreta disposal will bring significant health and social gains. Moreover, promotion of hygiene education campaigns about household water treatment, safe water storage and handling, washing hands with soaps at critical times, and adequately removing child feces from the domestic environment can also help ensure that people preserve good health in their household and their community.

Suggested Citation

  • Usman, Muhammed Abdella & Gerber, Nicolas & von Braun, Joachim, 2016. "The Impact of Drinking Water Quality and Sanitation Behavior on Child Health: Evidence from Rural Ethiopia," Discussion Papers 241764, University of Bonn, Center for Development Research (ZEF).
  • Handle: RePEc:ags:ubzefd:241764
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.241764
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Michael Kremer & Alix Peterson Zwane, 2007. "Cost-Effective Prevention of Diarrheal Diseases: A Critical Review," Working Papers 117, Center for Global Development.
    2. World Bank, 2005. "Ethiopia : A Country Status Report on Health and Poverty, Volume 1, Executive Summary," World Bank Publications - Reports 8685, The World Bank Group.
    3. Gayatri Koolwal & Dominique van de Walle, 2013. "Access to Water, Women's Work, and Child Outcomes," Economic Development and Cultural Change, University of Chicago Press, vol. 61(2), pages 369-405.
    4. United Nations Children's Fund UNICEF, 2009. "The State of the World's Children 2009," Working Papers id:1860, eSocialSciences.
    5. World Bank, 2005. "Ethiopia : A Country Status Report on Health and Poverty, Volume 2, Main Report," World Bank Publications - Reports 8687, The World Bank Group.
    6. Gilman, R.H. & Marquis, G.S. & Ventura, G. & Campos, M. & Spira, W. & Diaz, F., 1993. "Water cost and availability: Key determinants of family hygiene in a Peruvian shantytown," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 83(11), pages 1554-1558.
    7. Matias D. Cattaneo & Sebastian Galiani & Paul J. Gertler & Sebastian Martinez & Rocio Titiunik, 2009. "Housing, Health, and Happiness," American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, American Economic Association, vol. 1(1), pages 75-105, February.
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    Keywords

    Consumer/Household Economics; Environmental Economics and Policy; Health Economics and Policy; Research Methods/ Statistical Methods;
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