The effect of deforestation on infant health: a multilevel mediation analysis

Abstract

Humans have been cutting down trees for sustenance since ancient times, but with the advent of the industrial revolution, the deforestation process has reached alarming rates. It is well known that deforestation has detrimental effects on the environment and biodiversity, but effects on human health are understudied. In this paper, we analysed two samples of Nigerian children collected in two years using a multilevel mediation model. The aim is to assess the impact of forest loss on the likelihood of developing certain diseases and whether this effect can be mediated by environmental characteristics like soil fertility. Results provide mixed evidence of the effects of deforestation on human health and call for further investigation.