The impact od water supplies and sanitation on growth in Chinese children

In many developing countries, improvement in water supplies has not been su pplemented by improvement in sanitation facilities. Moreover, health educat ion is rarely included in environmental hygiene programmes. Community healt h workers need to know if water supplies and sanitation have independent or complementary effects on health. This study analysed the weight data of 1, 045 Chinese children aged 60 months or below. Regression models with intera ction terms were tested against a model with main effects only. There was n o evidence of interaction between water supplies and sanitation measures. T he results show that water supplies and toilet facilities had independent a ssociations with growth. Improved water source (P=0.01) and flush-toilet (P =0.06) were found positively associated with the children's weight. presenc e of excreta in the home had a negative, but not statistically significant, association with weight.