Natural disasters and child health
Dhanushka Thamarapani
Abstract
Abstract With the increasing number of natural disasters, understanding the links between these events and child health has become timely and pertinent. Using a panel dataset, this paper empirically investigates the persistent effects on child health due to exposure to a series of natural disasters that occurred from 2002 to 2007 in Indonesia. We find that girls exposed to multiple disaster events are 0.19 standard deviations shorter and are 7 per cent more likely to be stunted when measured 7 to 12 years later. We find no persistent effect on boys. From a public policy perspective, we highlight the need for coping strategies beyond access to credit or remittances in order to mitigate growth retardation in children.
Topics & Concepts
Natural disasterCoping (psychology)Perspective (graphical)Public healthEnvironmental healthOrder (exchange)Child healthDevelopment economicsGeographyPsychologyEconomicsMedicinePediatricsPsychiatryNursingFinanceComputer scienceArtificial intelligenceMeteorologyAgricultural risk and resiliencePoverty, Education, and Child WelfareChild Nutrition and Water Access