Misfortunes never come singly : structural change, multiple shocks and child malnutirition in rural Senegal

Date

2016-12-15

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Publisher

PRISE Pathways to resilience in semi-arid economies

Abstract

The proverb ‘misfortunes never come singly’ suggests that adverse events are connected, and that their impact is made worse because they happen together. The research examines effects of multiple shocks on child weight and height, using a novel dataset of children living in poor households in rural Senegal. The exposure of poor households to multiple and reinforcing shocks undermines their ability to escape from poverty traps. Climate risks and shocks therefore need to be considered in combination with other economic, biological and health shocks when designing development interventions and programmes for child health and nutrition.

Description

Keywords

ECOSYSTEMS, DROUGHT, MALNUTRITION, RURAL POVERTY, FOOD PRICES, FOOD SECURITY, CLIMATE CHANGE VULNERABILITY, SENEGAL, SOUTH OF SAHARA

Citation

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