Desert Locust Invasions and Child Health: Evidence from the Republic of the Niger

Abstract

Abstract This study assesses the extent to which the invasions of desert locust swarms affect child health in the Republic of the Niger. We discover that children exposed to the invasions tend to be shorter for their age, thinner for their age, and thinner for their height. In particular, a one standard deviation increase in the affected area (around 200 ha) is associated with a 0.019 standard deviation reduction in height-for-age, 0.029 standard deviation decrease in weight-for-age, and 0.020 standard deviation decrease in weight-for-height z-score. Given the long-lasting irreparable consequences of poor health in early life throughout the life cycle, the study calls for prompt and effective efforts to prevent the adverse effects of the desert locust swarm invasions.