Public policy and anthropometric outcomes in Côte d'Ivoire

Using data from Cote d'Ivoire, this paper examines the impact of public policies on three anthropometric outcomes: height for age and weight for height of children as well as body mass index of adults. During the eighties, low growth rates in Cote d'Ivoire were accompanied by an economic adjustment program which included substantial cuts in public spending together with increases in the relative price of foods. If reductions in social spending resulted in lower availability and quality of health care services, then results suggest that child health (particularly height for age) will have been adversely affected. The provision of basic services (such as immunizations) and ensuring facilities are equipped with simple materials (such as having basic drugs in stock) will yield high social returns in terms of improved child health. Food prices have tended to rise in Cote d'Ivoire during the eighties and the authors find that higher food prices have had a significantly detrimental impact on the health of Ivorian children (as measured by weight for height) and adults (as indicated by lower body mass indices). In contrast, the effects of income on health are significant but quite small, except in the case of adult women.