Dean Spears|Arabinda Ghosh|Oliver Cumming
Correction: Open Defecation and Childhood Stunting in India: An Ecological Analysis of New Data from 112 Districts
Centre for Development Economics|London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
poor sanitation remains major public health concern linked several important health outcomes emerging evidence indicates link childhood stuntingin india half population defecates open prevalence stunting remains highrecently published data levels stunting 112 districts india provide opportunity explore relationship levels open defecation stunting within populationwe conducted ecological regression analysis assess association prevalence open defecation stunting adjustment potential confounding factorsdata 2011 hungama survey used outcome interest stunting data 2011 indian census districts used exposure interest open defecationafter adjustment various potential confounding factorsincluding socioeconomic status maternal education calorie availability 10 percent increase open defecation associated 07 percentage point increase stunting severe stuntingdifferences open defecation statistically account 35 55 percent average difference stunting districts identified lowperforming highperforming hungama datain addition using monte carlo simulation explored effect statistical power common practice dichotomizing continuous height data binary stunting indicatorsour simulation showed dichotomization height sacrifices statistical power suggesting estimate association open defecation stunting may lower boundwhilst analysis ecological therefore vulnerable residual confounding findings use recently collected largescale data india add growing body suggestive evidence effect poor sanitation human growthnew intervention studies currently underway may shed light important issue