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Relationship between Water and Sanitation and Maternal Health: Evidence from Indonesia

Author

Listed:
  • Lisa Cameron

    (Melbourne Institute: Applied Economic & Social Research, the University of Melbourne)

  • Claire Chase

    (World Bank Water Global Practice)

  • Diana Contreras Suarez

    (Melbourne Institute: Applied Economic & Social Research, the University of Melbourne)

Abstract

Poor household water supply and sanitation can affect maternal and newborn health outcomes through several pathways, including the quality of drinking water consumed by pregnant woman and exposure to harmful fecal pathogens in the environment due to poor quality sanitation. Using data on 14,098 pregnancies across four rounds of the Indonesian Family Life Survey (IFLS), we investigate the relationship between water and sanitation and outcomes along the course of a pregnancy - health and complications during pregnancy, probability of a miscarriage, complications during child birth, probability of live birth, and neonatal outcomes including birth weight and newborn survival rates. After controlling for confounding factors, we find that access to at least basic household sanitation is strongly associated with substantially decreased overall risk during pregnancy and birth. Whether or not a household has access to at least basic sanitation is strongly significantly associated with a lower probability of miscarriage and is a strong predictor of high fever during labor (an indicator of infection). We find no systematic association between household access to basic water and maternal and newborn outcomes. We also find no evidence of herd protection resulting from high levels of sanitation within the community.

Suggested Citation

  • Lisa Cameron & Claire Chase & Diana Contreras Suarez, 2021. "Relationship between Water and Sanitation and Maternal Health: Evidence from Indonesia," Melbourne Institute Working Paper Series wp2021n14, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, The University of Melbourne.
    • Handle: RePEc:iae:iaewps:wp2021n14
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Anderson, Michael L., 2008. "Multiple Inference and Gender Differences in the Effects of Early Intervention: A Reevaluation of the Abecedarian, Perry Preschool, and Early Training Projects," Journal of the American Statistical Association, American Statistical Association, vol. 103(484), pages 1481-1495.
    2. Bijaya K Padhi & Kelly K Baker & Ambarish Dutta & Oliver Cumming & Matthew C Freeman & Radhanatha Satpathy & Bhabani S Das & Pinaki Panigrahi, 2015. "Risk of Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes among Women Practicing Poor Sanitation in Rural India: A Population-Based Prospective Cohort Study," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(7), pages 1-18, July.
    3. Douglas Almond & Janet Currie, 2011. "Killing Me Softly: The Fetal Origins Hypothesis," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 25(3), pages 153-172, Summer.
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    Cited by:

    1. Cao, Andi & Li, Houjian, 2025. "Leading change: The impact of female officials on the rural toilet revolution in China," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 694-716.
    2. Wang, Dongqin & Shen, Yanni, 2022. "Sanitation and work time: Evidence from the toilet revolution in rural China," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    3. Sosson Tadadjeu & Brice Kamguia & Ronald Djeunankan, 2023. "Access to drinking water and sanitation in developing countries: Does financial development matter?," International Review of Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 37(4), pages 457-481, July.
    4. Saraswat, Deepak, 2024. "Gender composition of children and sanitation behavior in India," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    5. Junpeng Li & Puneet Vatsa & Wanglin Ma, 2024. "Flush toilet use and its impact on health and non‐health expenditures," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 36(4), pages 2022-2046, May.
    6. Balasubramanian, P. & Burchi, F. & Malerba, D., 2023. "Does economic growth reduce multidimensional poverty? Evidence from low- and middle-income countries," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).

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    JEL classification:

    • I15 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Economic Development
    • Q59 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Other
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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