Abstract
Abstract
Background
Accessing household toilets is vital for adolescent health during crucial stages of growth and development; however, some ethnic minority families in China lack toilets. The relationship between household toilet accessibility and the physical health of adolescents in China’s ethnic minority areas has been underexamined.
Methods
Using two waves of data from the China Education Panel Survey (2013 and 2014), this study explored the effect of household toilet accessibility on Chinese ethnic minority adolescents’ physical health. The sample consisted of 576 ethnic minority adolescents with an average age of approximately 13 years. To test the health effect of household toilet accessibility on ethnic minority adolescents, a fixed effects ordinary least squares model and difference-in-differences combined with propensity score matching method were used.
Results
The results of the fixed effects model and difference-in-differences combined with propensity score matching showed a significant and positive effect of household toilet accessibility on adolescents’ physical health. The heterogeneity analysis indicated that among the toilet types of soil cesspits, cement cesspits, squat toilets, and flush toilets, the flush toilets were proven to be the most efficient in improving adolescents’ physical health. Moreover, the family living arrangement was proven to play a moderating role in the effect of household toilet accessibility on the physical health of ethnic minority adolescents. The average marginal effects of household toilet accessibility on the physical health of ethnic minority adolescents who lived without parents were more evident and significant than those who lived with their parents.
Conclusion
Promoting household toilet accessibility in China’s ethnic minority areas is essential for improving adolescents’ health. Moreover, having a household toilet is not sufficient, the quality and dignity of household toilets are also important.
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Subject
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
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