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International Journal of Public Health

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01-03-2018 | Original Article

Water system unreliability and diarrhea incidence among children in Guatemala

Authors: Jennifer Trudeau, Anna-Maria Aksan, William F. Vásquez

Published in: International Journal of Public Health | Issue 2/2018

Abstract

Objectives

This article examines the effect of water system unreliability on diarrhea incidence among children aged 0–5 in Guatemala.

Methods

We use secondary data from a nationally representative sample of 7579 children to estimate the effects of uninterrupted and interrupted water services on diarrhea incidence. The national scope of this study imposes some methodological challenges due to unobserved geographical heterogeneity. To address this issue, we estimate mixed-effects logit models that control for unobserved heterogeneity by estimating random effects of selected covariates that can vary across geographical areas (i.e. water system reliability).

Results

Compared to children without access to piped water, children with uninterrupted water services have a lower probability of diarrhea incidence by approximately 33 percentage points. Conversely, there is no differential effect between children without access and those with at least one day of service interruptions in the previous month. Results also confirm negative effects of age, female gender, spanish language, and garbage disposal on diarrhea incidence.

Conclusions

Public health benefits of piped water are realized through uninterrupted provision of service, not merely access. Policy implications are discussed.

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Title: Water system unreliability and diarrhea incidence among children in Guatemala
Authors: Jennifer Trudeau
Anna-Maria Aksan
William F. Vásquez
Publication date: 01-03-2018
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Published in: International Journal of Public Health / Issue 2/2018
Print ISSN: 1661-8556
Electronic ISSN: 1661-8564
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-017-1054-6

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Water system unreliability and diarrhea incidence among children in Guatemala

Abstract

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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