Temperature and risk of diarrhoea among children in Sub-Saharan Africa

We assess the effects of temperature on the risk of diarrhoea, one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity among children under 5. Our analysis focuses on Sub-Saharan Africa, the continent where tem-peratures have been rising at twice the global rate and diarrhoea prevalence rates are highest. Drawing on child-level survey data and exploiting quasi-random variation in temperature realisations around the date of interview, we show that temperature strongly influences diarrhoea incidence as well as preva-lence of wasting (low weight-for-height ratios). Using binned regressions, we document that the effects are particularly strong in the temperature range 30-37.5 degrees C. We further find that access to improved san-itation and drinking water facilities mitigates these temperature-induces risks. This implies that building up such capacities is a particularly pressing issue in regions that will experience strong increases in tem-peratures and lack adequate access to sanitation and safe water. We use our estimates together with cli-mate projections to identify these areas.(c) 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Automated summary

This study assesses the impact of temperature on the risk of diarrhoea among children under 5, with a focus on Sub-Saharan Africa. The findings show that temperature strongly influences the incidence of diarrhoea and wasting prevalence, particularly in the temperature range of 30-37.5 degrees C. Improved sanitation and access to safe water facilities can mitigate these temperature-induced risks.