Poor sanitation remains a major public health concern linked to several important health outcomes; emerging evidence indicates a link to childhood stunting. In India over half of the population defecates in the open; the prevalence of stunting remains very high. Recently published data on levels of stunting in 112 districts of India provide an opportunity to explore the relationship between levels of open defecation and stunting within this population.
This paper does not seek to privilege sanitation at the expense of other sectors. Rather, it seeks to prioritise sanitation, alongside safe water, as part of an integrated approach to development.
