- Author: Dean Spears
- Chapter in: Undernutrition and Public Policy in India
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Abstract
The first part of this chapter reviews evidence from the literature of a large effect of open defecation on child height that can account for important international differences. The second part of the chapter presents new empirical results using the rural part of the India Human Development Survey (IHDS). This cross-sectional evidence is not individually conclusive, but presents useful suggestive evidence because the IHDS combines in one survey anthropometric and cognitive measurements, information on sanitation and economic details that are not available in Demographic and Health Surveys’ data about India.
Taken together, the converging evidence suggests that reducing open defecation by promoting safe latrine use will be a necessary and important component of a multi-sector policy effort towards reducing stunting in India and improving the economic productivity, cognitive achievement and health of future generations.