A groundbreaking study published in the prestigious scientific journal Nature has revealed the profound impact of India’s Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) on infant mortality rates. The research, conducted by scientists from the International Food Policy Research Institute in the United States, analyzed data from 35 states and 640 districts across India between 2011 and 2020, focusing on infant mortality rate (IMR) and under-five mortality rate (U5MR).
The study found a strong inverse correlation between access to toilets and child mortality in India. This means that as toilet access increases, child mortality decreases. This association was particularly evident after the launch of the SBM in 2014, which saw a dramatic increase in toilet construction across the country. Over 117 million toilets were built with a public investment exceeding 1.4 lakh crore, signifying the program’s scale and commitment.
The study’s key findings indicate that for every 10 percentage point increase in district-level toilet access, there was a corresponding decrease of 0.9 points in IMR and 1.1 points in U5MR. A threshold effect was also observed, where districts with 30% or higher toilet coverage experienced significant reductions in infant and child mortality. Districts exceeding this threshold witnessed a decrease of 5.3 points in IMR and 6.8 points in U5MR per thousand live births, translating to approximately 60,000-70,000 infant lives saved annually.
These results were validated through robustness checks and falsification tests, confirming their accuracy and significance.
The researchers highlighted the unique approach of SBM, which combined toilet construction with substantial investments in information, education, and communication (IEC) programs and community engagement. This comprehensive strategy, unlike previous sanitation efforts in India, contributed to the program’s success.
The study’s findings provide novel evidence of the positive impact of SBM on infant and child mortality, showcasing the transformative potential of comprehensive sanitation programs in improving public health outcomes. The increased access to toilets under SBM likely reduced exposure to fecal-oral pathogens, contributing to lower incidences of diarrhea and malnutrition, which are major contributors to child mortality in India.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who launched SBM in 2014, expressed his satisfaction with the study’s findings, emphasizing the critical role of clean sanitation in public health and India’s leadership in this vital area.
The study’s conclusions underscore the critical role of sanitation in achieving broader public health goals, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. The success of SBM in India serves as a model for other nations seeking to improve sanitation infrastructure and public health outcomes.
