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Child Malnutrition in Indonesia: Can Education, Sanitation and Healthcare Augment the Role of Income?

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  • Indunil De Silva
  • Sudarno Sumarto

Abstract

In spite of the sustained economic growth and progress in reducing poverty, the status of child nutrition is abysmal in Indonesia with chronic malnutrition rates continuing to remain at very high levels. In this backdrop, this study attempts to shed light on the channels through which various socio‐economic factors affect children's nutritional status in Indonesia. Utilizing recent data from Indonesian Family Life Survey, and controlling for an exhaustive set of socio‐economic factors, it emerged that mother's education, water and sanitation conditions, household poverty and access to healthcare to strongly influence chronic malnutrition among children in Indonesia. Child stunting rates were surprisingly high even in the wealthiest quintile of households, implying that income growth merely will not automatically solve the nutritional problem. Copyright © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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  • Indunil De Silva & Sudarno Sumarto, 2018. "Child Malnutrition in Indonesia: Can Education, Sanitation and Healthcare Augment the Role of Income?," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(5), pages 837-864, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:wly:jintdv:v:30:y:2018:i:5:p:837-864
    DOI: 10.1002/jid.3365
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    2. Jul Indra & Khoirunurrofik Khoirunurrofik, 2022. "Understanding the role of village fund and administrative capacity in stunting reduction: Empirical evidence from Indonesia," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 17(1), pages 1-12, January.
    3. Tri Mulyaningsih & Itismita Mohanty & Tesfaye Alemayehu Gebremedhin & Riyana Miranti & Vitri Widyaningsih, 2023. "Does access to water, sanitation, and hygiene improve children's health? An empirical analysis in Indonesia," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 41(5), September.
    4. Thiede, Brian C. & Gray, Clark, 2020. "Climate exposures and child undernutrition: Evidence from Indonesia," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 265(C).
    5. Kofinti, Raymond Elikplim & Koomson, Isaac & Paintsil, Jones Arkoh & Ameyaw, Edward Kwabena, 2022. "Reducing children's malnutrition by increasing mothers' health insurance coverage: A focus on stunting and underweight across 32 sub-Saharan African countries," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 117(C).
    6. AMAGHOUSS, Jabrane & IBOURK, Aomar, 2020. "Socio-Economic Determinants Of The Prevalence Of Disability In Morocco: Empirical Evidence From Spatial Data," Regional and Sectoral Economic Studies, Euro-American Association of Economic Development, vol. 20(2), pages 79-96.
    7. Egla Mansi & Eglantina Hysa & Mirela Panait & Marian Catalin Voica, 2020. "Poverty—A Challenge for Economic Development? Evidences from Western Balkan Countries and the European Union," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-24, September.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D01 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Microeconomic Behavior: Underlying Principles
    • D1 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior
    • I1 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health
    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior

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