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The Effect of Improved Water, Sanitation and Hygiene on Linear Growth Amongst Children Living in Developing Countries: A Systematic Review

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dc.contributor.author Chavura, Elton
dc.contributor.author Singini, Wales
dc.contributor.author Chidya, Russel
dc.contributor.author Mbakaya, Balwani Chingatichifwe
dc.date.accessioned 2024-01-22T06:59:29Z
dc.date.available 2024-01-22T06:59:29Z
dc.date.issued 2022-09-30
dc.identifier.citation Chavura E., Singini W., Chidya R. & Mbkaya B.C.(2022). The Effect of Improved Water, Sanitation and Hygiene on Linear Growth Amongst Children Living in Developing Countries: A Systematic Review. European Scientific Journal, ESJ, 18 (30), 296. en_US
dc.identifier.issn 1857-7881 (Print) e - ISSN 1857-7431
dc.identifier.uri https://doi.org/10.19044/esj.2022.v18n30p296
dc.identifier.uri http://repository.mzuni.ac.mw/handle/123456789/512
dc.description.abstract Constant exposure to poor water, sanitation and hygiene (WaSH) contribute to environmental enteric dysfunction; a disorder that is frequently implicated as a cause of linear growth failure. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of WaSH on linear growth amongst children aged 0-59 months. We reviewed fourteen (14) studies retrieved from AMED, CINAHL, DOAJ, PubMed, PsycINFO, Google Scholar, and EMBASE databases following guidelines developed by PROSPERO and COCHRANE. The screening process was summarized using a PRISMA flow diagram, and the methodologies were critically appraised by a Mixed Method Appraisal Tool. The following search terms were employed in the search strategy: sanitation and/or improved water supply and/or WaSH and/or stunting and/or linear growth and/or environmental enteric dysfunction. No difference was seen in mean height for age Z-score (0.01, 95% CI-0.16 to 0.18) between children who received WaSH interventions and those who did not. Only five (5) studies reported a significant association between WaSH and child linear growth (P < 0.001). All combination intervention studies included in this review did not establish any significant benefit of WaSH and nutrition integration, presumably due to methodological limitations and a short duration of exposure to the interventions. Although robust sanitation coverage could be an important component amongst proven interventions to stimulate linear growth, stunted growth is embedded within myriad determinants beyond improved WaSH. More research is needed to quantify the complementary effect of WaSH and nutrition co-programming. This systematic review was registered in the PROSPERO database with registration number CRD42022322462. en_US
dc.language.iso en en_US
dc.publisher European Scientific Journal en_US
dc.subject Systematic review en_US
dc.subject WaSH en_US
dc.subject Linear Growth en_US
dc.subject Environmental Enteric Dysfunction en_US
dc.subject Sanitation en_US
dc.subject Improved Water Supply en_US
dc.title The Effect of Improved Water, Sanitation and Hygiene on Linear Growth Amongst Children Living in Developing Countries: A Systematic Review en_US
dc.type Article en_US


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