Abstract
BackgroundThis research examines the relationship between violent conflict and childhood wasting in Northeast Nigeria, where residents have been subjected to fighting between the Nigerian government and Boko Haram - an extremist Islamist movement - since 2009.MethodsUsing two Demographic and Health Surveys from before and after the Boko Haram insurgency started, a double-difference (difference-in-difference) approach is used to assess the impact of the conflict on mean weight-for-height z-scores and the likelihood of wasting.ResultsResults suggest that if children exposed to the conflict had not been exposed, their mean weight-for-height z-score would be 0.49 standard deviations higher (p < 0.001) than it is, increasing from − 0.74 to − 0.25. Additionally, the likelihood of wasting would be 13 percentage points lower (mean z-statistic − 4.2), bringing the proportion down from 23% to 10%.ConclusionDescriptive evidence suggests that poor child health outcomes in the conflict areas of Northeast Nigeria may be due to disruptions to social services and increased food insecurity in an already resource poor area. Although other unidentified factors may contribute to both conflict and wasting, the findings underscore the importance of appropriate programs and policies to support children in conflict zones.
Highlights
This research examines the relationship between violent conflict and childhood wasting in Northeast Nigeria, where residents have been subjected to fighting between the Nigerian government and Boko Haram - an extremist Islamist movement - since 2009
While wasting declined in the non-conflict states by 10%, the percentage increased in the conflict states from 18 to 23%
The results suggest that, ceteris paribus, if children who were exposed to the Boko Haram insurgency had not been exposed, the likelihood of wasting would decrease by 13 percentage points
Summary
This research examines the relationship between violent conflict and childhood wasting in Northeast Nigeria, where residents have been subjected to fighting between the Nigerian government and Boko Haram - an extremist Islamist movement - since 2009. Community and household resources may be diminished as funds are diverted away from social services, prices for food and other commodities rise, and fear or physical obstacles prevent caregivers from pursuing livelihood activities [1, 2]. Infrastructure such as health facilities, markets, water supply and sewage systems, and roads may be damaged or otherwise inaccessible [1, 2]. Populations may be forced to leave a conflict zone, which could expose them to inadequate shelter, water, sanitation, and food and deprive them of livelihoods [1, 2]. Health care personnel may leave the area while the most vulnerable households may be unable to do so [2]
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