Three Essays on the Causes and Consequences of Poor Health and Nutrition in the Developing World

This dissertation explores health and nutrition in the developing world as both a determinant of economic outcomes and the result of economic realities. Health and nutrition are critical components of economic and social well being and are therefore important factors of development. As such, much effort and resources have been devoted to improving health outcomes in the developing world. This dissertation (1) provides guidance on how policies can be best designed to improve health and (2) provides a better understanding of the linkages between poor health and economic outcomes. The three essays that comprise the dissertation investigate separate contexts and linkages involving health and nutrition in the developing world. The first essay examines the importance of household infrastructure (water source, sanitation facilities, and flooring quality) for acute and chronic child diarrhea in Bolivia. It specifically focuses on the effect of combinations of improved infrastructure, a subject rarely discussed in existing research. The results from the essay suggest that improved sanitation facilities are effective at reducing acute diarrhea while improved flooring was effective at reducing chronic diarrhea. The results also suggest that having these two improved infrastructures in combination may be more effective than individually. The second essay explores whether and how parents alter their work hours in response to a child becoming infected with malaria. How parents alter their work hours could have negative repercussions for the household as a whole either though less time devoted to child care or reduced income. Analyzing data from Malawi, it is found that there is no overall change in the work hours of parents. However, it does appear that both fathers and mothers engage in low-paid, part-time ganyu labor following child infection. Ganyu employment may help cover the costs of care, but could result in reduced care time or decreased time in other more lucrative forms of work.The third essay investigates the linkages between agricultural production and household nutrition. It focuses on how the level and diversity of production translates into variability in household caloric intake and dietary diversity. These linkages are the underlying justification for many nutrition oriented agricultural policies, but has not been sufficiently addressed in the literature. Analyzing panel data from Nigeria, a strong positive relationship is found between agricultural output and both caloric intake and dietary diversity. In addition, a strong positive association was found between production diversity and dietary diversity. The results suggest that policies promoting expanded and more varied agricultural production may be effective at combating malnutrition in the developing world.