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Cost-Effective Prevention of Diarrheal Diseases: A Critical Review

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  • Michael Kremer

  • Alix Peterson Zwane

Abstract

This paper critically reviews the existing research on the cost-effective prevention and treatment of diarrheal diseases, and identifies research priorities in this area aimed at finding ways to reduce the diarrheal disease burden. In contrast to the empirical knowledge base that exists for traditional child health programs to reduce diarrheal morbidity and mortality, evidence on the relative effectiveness and costeffectiveness of various environmental health interventions is limited and subject to significant methodological concerns. There is a limited understanding of the determinants of longterm water and sanitation technology adoption and behavior change at the individual level. Even less is known about how collective action problems in water and sanitation infrastructure maintenance can be overcome. An agenda for future research includes evaluating alternative transmission interruption mechanisms, improving understanding of the determinants of individual-level technology adoption in the water and sanitation sector, and assessing the quality of infrastructure maintenance under different management schemes.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael Kremer & Alix Peterson Zwane, 2007. "Cost-Effective Prevention of Diarrheal Diseases: A Critical Review," Working Papers 117, Center for Global Development.
    • Handle: RePEc:cgd:wpaper:117
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    Cited by:

    1. Joseph J. Capuno & Carlos Antonio R. Tan, Jr., 2012. "Are improved water supply and sanitation always safe for children? Implications for attaining the MDGs in the Philippines," UP School of Economics Discussion Papers 201209, University of the Philippines School of Economics.
    2. Carlos Antonio R. Tan, Jr. & Joseph J. Capuno, 2012. "Household decisions and child health : Estimating the links between water treatment and the incidence of diarrhea using non-recursive two-equation causal models," UP School of Economics Discussion Papers 201202, University of the Philippines School of Economics.
    3. Reshmaan Hussam & Atonu Rabbani & Giovanni Reggiani & Natalia Rigol, 2017. "Habit Formation and Rational Addiction: A Field Experiment in Handwashing," Harvard Business School Working Papers 18-030, Harvard Business School.
    4. Kosec, Katrina, 2014. "The child health implications of privatizing africa's urban water supply," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 35(C), pages 1-19.
    5. Santosh, Kumar & Sebastian, Vollmer, 2011. "Does improved sanitation reduce diarrhea in children in rural India?," MPRA Paper 31804, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Joseph J. Capuno & Carlos Antonio R. Tan, Jr. & Xylee Javier, 2016. "WASH for child health: Some evidence in support of public intervention in the Philippines," UP School of Economics Discussion Papers 201611, University of the Philippines School of Economics.
    7. Reshmaan Hussam & Abu S. Shonchoy & Chikako Yamauchi & Kailash Pandey, 2021. "Translating Information into Action: A Public Health Experiment in Bangladesh," Working Papers 2127, Florida International University, Department of Economics.
    8. Youssouf Kiendrebeogo, 2012. "Access to Improved Water Sources and Rural Productivity: Analytical Framework and Cross-country Evidence," African Development Review, African Development Bank, vol. 24(2), pages 153-166.
    9. Usman, Muhammed Abdella & Gerber, Nicolas & von Braun, Joachim, 2016. "The Impact of Drinking Water Quality and Sanitation Behavior on Child Health: Evidence from Rural Ethiopia," Discussion Papers 241764, University of Bonn, Center for Development Research (ZEF).

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