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Malnutrition, subsequent Risk of Mortality and Civil War in Burundi

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  • Philip Verwimp

Abstract

The paper investigates the effect of child malnutrition on the risk of mortality in Burundi, a very poor country heavily affected by civil war. We use anthropometric data from a longitudinal survey (1998-2007). We find that undernourished children, as measured by the height-for-age z-scores (HAZ) in 1998 had a higher probability to die during subsequent years. In order to address the problem of omitted variables correlated with both nutritional status and the risk of mortality, we use the length of exposure to civil war prior to 1998 as a source of exogenous variation in a child’s nutritional status. Children exposed to civil war in their area of residence have worse nutritional status. The paper finds that one year of exposure translates into a 0.15 decrease in the HAZ, resulting in a 10% increase in the probability to die for the whole sample as well as a 0.34 decrease in HAZ per year of exposure for boys only, resulting in 25% increase in the probability to die. We show the robustness of our results. Food and income transfer programs during civil war should be put in place to avoid the long-term effects of malnutrition.

Suggested Citation

  • Philip Verwimp, 2011. "Malnutrition, subsequent Risk of Mortality and Civil War in Burundi," Working Papers CEB 11-025, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
  • Handle: RePEc:sol:wpaper:2013/90703
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Harold Alderman & John Hoddinott & Bill Kinsey, 2006. "Long term consequences of early childhood malnutrition," Oxford Economic Papers, Oxford University Press, vol. 58(3), pages 450-474, July.
    2. Philip Verwimp & Jan Bavel, 2005. "Child Survival and Fertility of Refugees in Rwanda," European Journal of Population, Springer;European Association for Population Studies, vol. 21(2), pages 271-290, June.
    3. Philip Verwimp & Jan Van Bavel, 2014. "Schooling, Violent Conflict, and Gender in Burundi," The World Bank Economic Review, World Bank Group, vol. 28(2), pages 384-411.
    4. Mu, Ren & Zhang, Xiaobo, 2011. "Why does the Great Chinese Famine affect the male and female survivors differently? Mortality selection versus son preference," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 9(1), pages 92-105, January.
    5. Alderman, Harold & Lokshin, Michael & Radyakin, Sergiy, 2011. "Tall claims: Mortality selection and the height of children in India," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 9(4), pages 393-406.
    6. Andrews,Donald W. K. & Stock,James H. (ed.), 2005. "Identification and Inference for Econometric Models," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521844413, October.
    7. Austin Nichols, 2009. "Causal inference," DC09 Stata Conference 8, Stata Users Group.
    8. James H. Stock & Motohiro Yogo, 2002. "Testing for Weak Instruments in Linear IV Regression," NBER Technical Working Papers 0284, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    9. Austin Nichols, 2007. "Causal inference with observational data," Stata Journal, StataCorp LP, vol. 7(4), pages 507-541, December.
    10. International Monetary Fund, 2007. "Burundi: Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper," IMF Staff Country Reports 2007/046, International Monetary Fund.
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    Cited by:

    1. Minoiu, Camelia & Shemyakina, Olga N., 2014. "Armed conflict, household victimization, and child health in Côte d'Ivoire," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 237-255.
    2. repec:nva:unnvaa:wp04-2012 is not listed on IDEAS

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    Keywords

    malnutrition; mortality; children; war; Africa; instrumental variables;
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