Water for Par or for Free: Does it Matter for Children's Health?
Mentor 1
Itziar Lazkano
Location
Union Wisconsin Room
Start Date
28-4-2017 1:30 PM
End Date
28-4-2017 4:00 PM
Description
Waterborne and other diseases reduce the standards of living of a high share of children in developing countries. For example, the World Bank estimates that 3.8% of children in Malawi are considered wasting compared to 0.5% in the US. Using data collected in 2013 from four villages along Lake Malawi, we observe that children under the age of five suffer from waterborne diseases, even though they have access to paid, treated water. Using the data, we estimate the probability that socioeconomic factors impact the rate of sick children, such as how much water is paid for and how much is taken from the lake, how long it takes to collect water, or if people bathe in the lake. Results show that while using paid water decreases the chances of a child getting sick, it does not eliminate these chances. Frequent testing, or better treatment of water, both paid and free, could help improve children's health along Lake Malawi.
Water for Par or for Free: Does it Matter for Children's Health?
Union Wisconsin Room
Waterborne and other diseases reduce the standards of living of a high share of children in developing countries. For example, the World Bank estimates that 3.8% of children in Malawi are considered wasting compared to 0.5% in the US. Using data collected in 2013 from four villages along Lake Malawi, we observe that children under the age of five suffer from waterborne diseases, even though they have access to paid, treated water. Using the data, we estimate the probability that socioeconomic factors impact the rate of sick children, such as how much water is paid for and how much is taken from the lake, how long it takes to collect water, or if people bathe in the lake. Results show that while using paid water decreases the chances of a child getting sick, it does not eliminate these chances. Frequent testing, or better treatment of water, both paid and free, could help improve children's health along Lake Malawi.
