Measuring the Effect of Environmental Hygieneon Child Health Outcomes in Cameroon

• Main Authors: Mbu Daniel Tambi, Johannes Tabi Atemnkeng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Publishing House of the University of Economics in Katowice 2018-05-01
• Series: Journal of Economics and Management
• Subjects: Health status of the population; Sanitary articles; Environmental protection; Children
• Online Access: https://www.ue.katowice.pl/fileadmin/user_upload/wydawnictwo/JEM_Artyku%C5%82y_31_60/JEM_32/8.pdf

Aim/purpose - This study attempts to examine the correlates of environmental hygiene and the influence of environmental hygiene on child health outcomes in Cameroon while controlling for other variables. Design/methodology/approach - The study made the use of Heckman/Control function Model through the 2011 Demographic and Health Survey with a sample size of 11.732 households. Findings - Result shows that environmental hygienic strongly corroborates with child health outcomes, meaning that improve latrines is associated with increase in child health in Cameroon. Result of determinants shows that education, father's age, father present in the house and urban residence are strongly correlating with environmental hygiene. Research implications/limitations - Highlights the need for decision-makers to be more intentional with allocating economic resources towards sanitation projects. Originality/value/contribution - Empirically, this study attempted to quantify the link between environmental hygiene and child health outcomes using the Cameroon DHS while solving for endogeneity, heterogeneity, simultaneity, and selectivity bias.(original abstract)