Dear SuSanA Forum users,

This post could fit in different categories. But it is certainly part of Hygiene, Health and Schools.

We want to encourage a discussion about a new study that has been conducted in India. The topic is open defecation and its relation to child mortality and development:
Open defecation solves the child mortality puzzle among Indian Muslims - The Asian enigma

Here is the link to the article:
arstechnica.com/science/2014/06/open-def...g-indian-muslims/#p3

"We show that the entire gap between Muslim and Hindu child mortality can be accounted for by a particular kind of sanitation externality," wrote Spears and Michael Geruso, professor of economics at the University of Texas at Austin, in their working paper (attached, open access document).




Behavioral Change seems to be the underlying challenge here. What do you think? Any knowledge or experiences to share?
What is the lesson to learn for international and local organisations in programme design?

I found this interesting CNN video on this issue, published in September 2012

[posted by Sebastian Klos]