Health and Sanitation in Brazil (Saude E Saneamento No Brasil)

Abstract

It was significant the reduction of child mortality rate associated with waterborne diseases in Brazil in the last two decades. Applying an epidemiological model we were able to identify that not only improvement in sanitation coverage as well as access to educational and health services were responsible for such rate pattern. Based on our econometric results we estimate how much each service expansion would cost to save one single life by reducing the analyzed mortality rate. Our results indicate that continuous access to education is by far the least cost alternative. However, prevention with sanitation services seems to match almost equivalent costs of the defensive expenditures on health services.

Note: Downloadable document is in Portuguese.

Keywords: Waterborne Deseases, Sanitation, Child Mortality, Panel Data, Fixed Effect, Schooling

JEL Classification: H4, I0, I1, Q2