Cost-Effective Prevention of Diarrheal Diseases: A Critical Review

47 Pages Posted: 30 Jul 2007

See all articles by Michael Kremer

Michael Kremer

Harvard University - Department of Economics; Brookings Institution; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER); Center for Global Development; Harvard University - Harvard Kennedy School (HKS)

Alix Peterson Zwane

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

Date Written: April 2007

Abstract

This paper critically reviews the existing research on the cost-effective prevention and treatment of diarrheal diseases, and identifies research priorities in this area aimed at finding ways to reduce the diarrheal disease burden. In contrast to the empirical knowledge base that exists for traditional child health programs to reduce diarrheal morbidity and mortality, evidence on the relative effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of various environmental health interventions is limited and subject to significant methodological concerns. There is a limited understanding of the determinants of longterm water and sanitation technology adoption and behavior change at the individual level. Even less is known about how collective action problems in water and sanitation infrastructure maintenance can be overcome. An agenda for future research includes evaluating alternative transmission interruption mechanisms, improving understanding of the determinants of individual-level technology adoption in the water and sanitation sector, and assessing the quality of infrastructure maintenance under different management schemes.

Keywords: diarrhea, diarrheal diseases, prevention

Suggested Citation

Kremer, Michael R. and Peterson Zwane, Alix, Cost-Effective Prevention of Diarrheal Diseases: A Critical Review (April 2007). Center for Global Development Working Paper No. 117, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1003255 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1003255

Michael R. Kremer (Contact Author)

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Alix Peterson Zwane

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation ( email )

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