The Relationship Between the Incidence of Stunted Children and Household Sanitation in Selected Regions in the Philippines

Date

1-2025

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Economics

College

College of Economics and Management (CEM)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Maria Luisa G. Valera

Committee Member

Ma. Janda Ira Felina M. Benedictos, Gideon P. Carnaje, Ma. Angeles O. Catelo

Request Access

For non-UP researchers, requests for access to this material may be directed to the CEM Library at cemlibrary.uplb@up.edu.ph or to the UKDR administrator at uscs-mainlib.uplb@up.edu.ph

Abstract

Stunting remains a significant public health challenge in the Philippines, affecting one in four children. This issue is worsened by inadequate household sanitation, with many households lacking clean water and proper toilet facilities, and some still practicing open defecation. This study analyzed the relationship between the incidence of stunted children and household sanitation in Region V - Bicol Region, Region VI - Western Visayas, and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) using the 2018, 2019, and 2021 Expanded National Nutrition Survey. Among the three regions analyzed, BARMM shows the highest prevalence of stunting which is attributed to limited access to improved sanitation facilities, low access to electricity, lower household income levels, younger household heads, larger household sizes, and lower educational attainment among household heads. Using Poisson regression, the results indicate that access to water-sealed toilets contributed in having lower stunting incidence in Regions VI and BARMM. However, in BARMM, even non-water-sealed toilets had a significant association with reduced stunting. Toilet facilities and stunting incidence in Region V are not considered related. Interestingly, access to improved drinking water was not statistically significant in any region. Socioeconomic factors such as household head age, income quintile, and household size are consistently significant predictors across all regions, while variables like access to electricity, educational attainment, and survey year are significant in few regions only. Providing proper toilet facilities can play a crucial role in reducing child stunting. Further research in other regions is essential to better understand these relationships and their implications nationwide.

Language

English

LC Subject

Sanitation, Household, Sanitation--Health aspects

Location

UPLB College of Economics and Management (CEM)

Call Number

LG 993.5 2025 E2 A75

Notes

Viewing access to electronic resources is restricted solely to UP Gmail accounts. Any access and share requests from external organizations and personal email accounts will be promptly declined.

Document Type

Thesis

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS