Climate and Children: How Floodings Affects Infant Nutritional Outcome in Mali, a Difference-in-Difference Analysis.


Khandys Agnant, McGill University

This study aims to investigate the impact of recurrent exposure to floods on infant nutritional outcomes in Mali, a focus that is particularly pertinent given the countrys escalating vulnerability to extreme weather events, including droughts and floods, and the potential repercussions of these climate disasters on the health of vulnerable children. The primary objective of this research is to bridge the existing gap in understanding the effects of recurrent floods on childrens health outcomes, with a specific emphasis on infant nutrition. Employing a Difference-in-Differences (DiD) approach, this study analyzes demographic and health survey data from 2006 and 2012 in order to assess the pre- and post-effects of recurrent flood exposure on infant malnutrition, and to shed light on the intricate relationship between flood exposure and its repercussions on the health of Malian infants. This study’s findings reveal compelling evidence of the adverse effects of recurrent floods on infant nutritional health. Specifically, the study identifies a significant association between recurrent flood exposure and severe stunting in Malian infants in 2012. This underscores the detrimental impact of climate events on the nutritional status of vulnerable populations, particularly in early childhood. Furthermore, the research highlights gender disparities in the effects of flood exposure, demonstrating that male children were more susceptible to moderate and severe stunting compared to their female counterparts. This gender-specific vulnerability sheds light on the nuanced impact of climate events on infant health outcomes and emphasizes the need for targeted interventions to address these disparities. In addition to flood exposure, this study found that maternal nutritional status emerges as a pivotal factor influencing infant nutritional outcomes amid recurrent floods. The study reveals that underweight mothers were significantly associated with higher odds of poor nutritional outcomes in their children, while overweight mothers exhibited a protective effect against stunting and underweight in their infants. These findings underscore the intergenerational implications of maternal nutritional status on childrens health, emphasizing the complex interplay between maternal well-being and infant nutritional outcomes in the face of climate-related challenges. This study’s results have important policy implications and highlights the need for targeted interventions to address nutritional challenges faced by infants exposed to recurrent floods. It underscores the importance of climate event preparedness and response strategies, emphasizing the need for adequate infant and young child feeding initiatives to prevent malnutrition in communities recurrently exposed to extreme climate events. Furthermore, the research underscores the importance of integrating maternal health interventions into broader climate resilience strategies, by recognizing the intergenerational effects of malnutrition and the pivotal role of maternal well-being plays in shaping infant nutritional outcomes in the context of recurrent floods. In conclusion, this study contributes valuable insights to the understanding of the impact of recurrent floods on infant nutrition in Mali. The findings have significant implications for policymakers, public health practitioners, and researchers, emphasizing the imperative of implementing comprehensive strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of recurrent floods on infant nutritional outcomes. By shedding light on the complex interplay between climate events, maternal health, and infant nutrition, this research provides a critical foundation for targeted interventions aimed at safeguarding the health and well-being of vulnerable populations in Mali and similar contexts globally.  

This paper will be presented at the following session: