Why is it in news?

A recent research study tries to study the link between sanitation and stunting.

Details

• Stunting among children, or low height for age, is common in developing countries with poor sanitation.
• Scientists hypothesise that this is because open defecation and unclean water expose children to faecal bugs. Even if these pathogens do not cause diarrhoea, they inflame a child’s gut and hamper the food absorption.
• However, two studies from Bangladesh and Kenya show that this hypothesis may need a rethink. The studies, which targeted over 13,000 families, showed that water purification, sanitary latrines and hand-washing (WASH) interventions in select households were not enough to prevent stunting in those households.
• The findings, published in The Lancet Global Health on January 29, mean one of two things. First, WASH interventions may need to be very widespread to make a difference. Second, factors other than WASH may be critical to stunting. The latter is more likely in developing countries that have already made progress with hygiene. But today, when people are less exposed to pathogens, the role of WASH in stunting may be declining.
• An alternative explanation is that other factors, like prenatal nutrition, are as important as WASH.
• However, governments must still focus on WASH because it is a basic human right, the study says.

Conclusion

This report can provide important data and direction to the policy makers of developing countries so that they can tackle the menace of stunting, malnutrition, improper sanitation etc. in a much more effective and efficient manner.

Source

The Hindu