Water Management and Child Health: a Cross-Country Comparison from 1950 to 2010

Water management is important for child health. The status of infant mortality between birth and age 1 was investigated. This research presents an overview of the water-related risks effects, such as diarrhoea. Infant mortality data of 33 countries between 1950 and 2010 were collected. Of these, 17 countries were in eastern Africa, seven in western Europe and nine in southeast Asia. Non-linear regression modelling was utilised. Developed countries were included for comparison purposes with developing countries owing to the progress made in those countries towards transformation into a knowledge economy. The findings show that about 50 years would be required to reduce infant mortality in eastern Africa to the levels achieved in western European countries, ceteris paribus, in the present study. Infant mortality also declined within all countries: by about 7 % in eastern Africa, 15 % in southeast Asia and 23 % in western Europe. Infant mortality, however, reduced partly owing to water-related concerns affecting child health. The analysis could not include environmental-social changes, ecosystem-based adaptations, all water-related disease and the effects of economic trends. Overall, this article recommends consistent improvement of policies and planning in the control of water-borne diseases worldwide. The implications of the analysis are intended to benefit health and water policy makers, researchers and countryside government planners and legislators.