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Soil zinc deficiency and child stunting: Evidence from Nepal

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  • Bevis, Leah
  • Kim, Kichan
  • Guerena, David
Abstract
We examine the negative child health impacts of soil zinc (Zn) deficiency in Nepal. Soil Zn deficiency limits both crop yields and the Zn concentration in food crops, leading many to speculate that it underlies human Zn deficiency and child stunting, globally and particularly in South Asia. We find strong evidence that soil Zn deficiency does have a causal impact on child stunting in Nepal’s Tarai region, the breadbasket of the country. Using causal bounds, we find that a 1 part per million increase in plant-available soil Zn – achievable with application of Zn-enriched fertilizer – decreases child stunting by between 1 and 7.5 percentage points. Multiple statistical sensitivity tests indicate that this relationship is unlikely to be manufactured by omitted, relevant variables.

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  • Bevis, Leah & Kim, Kichan & Guerena, David, 2023. "Soil zinc deficiency and child stunting: Evidence from Nepal," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jhecon:v:87:y:2023:i:c:s0167629622001060
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2022.102691
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    2. Andjar Prasetyo & Nana Noviana & Weni Rosdiana & M. Arief Anwar & Hartiningsih & Hendrixon & Bekti Putri Harwijayanti & Mochammad Fahlevi, 2023. "Stunting Convergence Management Framework through System Integration Based on Regional Service Governance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-23, January.
    3. Sania Ashraf & Cristina Bicchieri & Upasak Das & Tanu Gupta & Alex Shpenev, 2023. "Learning from diversity: jati fractionalization, social expectations and improved sanitation practices in India," Papers 2312.15221, arXiv.org.

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