Early life shocks and mental health: The long-term effect of war in Vietnam

Abstract

This study has been prepared within the UNU-WIDER project on 'Structural transformation and inclusive growth in Viet Nam'.

Long-lasting consequences of war on disability

“…Our results combined with a review of the theory and historical literature suggest that the likely pathway is through direct exposure to the bombing and other correlated ordnance and weapons including UXO, landmines, and dioxin, as well as through indirect mechanisms relating to poor nutritional environment, human capital depletion, and low quality public healthcare. Taken together with the earlier work of Miguel & Roland (2011) and Singhal (2018), our findings suggest that wars inflict costs on the health of human populations that last longer than those relating to economic growth and welfare. These findings from Vietnam underpin the importance of expediting the process of cleaning up the consequences of war, and in ensuring food security and adequate health and rehabilitation services for people in conflict-affected zones.…”

“…Exposure to armed conflict in utero or in early childhood or adolescent years is associated with substantially lower height or height-for-age scores (a proxy for long-run nutritional status and health) in later life in multiple contexts (Akresh, Lucchetti & Thirumurthy, 2012; Bundervoet, Verwimp & Akresh, 2009; Grimard & Laszlo, 2014; Minoiu & Shemyakina, 2014). Exposure to armed conflict in childhood has also been linked to long-lasting detrimental effects on mental health, self-rated health satisfaction, BMI, and chronic health conditions such as stroke, hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease (Akbulut-Yuksel, 2014, 2017; Singhal, 2018).…”

“…Third, we contribute to the literature on the health effects of the 1965–75 conflict on the Vietnamese population. Most studies find that the war in Vietnam had a negative effect on health using a wide range of indicators for adults: functional and mental functioning (Singhal, 2018; Teerawichitchainan & Korinek, 2012); and for children: congenital impairments (Le et al, 1990), mortality (Hirschman, Preston & Vu, 1995; Savitz et al, 1993), infant neurodevelopment (Pham et al, 2013). 4 Closest to our article is a study that estimates the long-term effects of bombing on mental health outcomes (Singhal, 2018).…”

“…Most studies find that the war in Vietnam had a negative effect on health using a wide range of indicators for adults: functional and mental functioning (Singhal, 2018; Teerawichitchainan & Korinek, 2012); and for children: congenital impairments (Le et al, 1990), mortality (Hirschman, Preston & Vu, 1995; Savitz et al, 1993), infant neurodevelopment (Pham et al, 2013). 4 Closest to our article is a study that estimates the long-term effects of bombing on mental health outcomes (Singhal, 2018). Using the 2016 wave of the Vietnam Access to Resources Survey and the same IV identification strategy, Singhal (2018) finds a substantial effect of early-life exposure to bombing on the likelihood of severe mental stress in adulthood.…”

Effects of conflict on child health: Evidence from the 1990–1994 Northern Mali Conflict

“…Armed conflict deteriorates both physical capital and human capital, which hinders a nation's future development. Studies of armed conflict have found that early‐life health plays a critical role in socioeconomic outcomes because children exposed to armed conflict in utero are likely to be less educated (see Ouili, 2017 for Cote d'Ivoire; Weldeegzie, 2017 for Ethiopia), less healthy in adulthood (see Akresh, Bhalotra, Leone, & Osili, 2012 for Nigeria; Akbulut‐Yuksel, 2017 for Germany; Singhal, 2018 for Vietnam) and in early childhood (see Akresh, Lucchetti, & Thirumurthy, 2012 for Eritrea; Akresh, Caruso, & Thirumurthy, 2014 for Ethiopia and Eritrea; Bundervoet, Verwimp, & Akresh, 2009 for Burundi; Guantai & Kijima, 2020 for Kenya; Minoiu & Shemyakina, 2014 for Cote d'Ivoire; Shemyakina, 2018 for Zimbabwe; Tranchant, Justino, & Müller, 2014 for India), and less likely to survive in utero and during the first year of life (see Dagnelie, Luca, & Maystadt, 2018 for Democratic Republic of Congo; Wagner et al, 2018 for Africa). Although studies examining the effect of armed conflict in SSA have recently been growing, there are some methodological challenges to identifying those actually exposed to conflict.…”