INTRODUCTION
Widespread lack of improved sanitation in rural areas of Vietnam leads to stunting, i.e. children being too short for their age. It is not the water that makes children sick and malnourished, it is the feces: sanitation is the primary barrier to stop the ingestion of human feces. Stunted children are not only short for their age, but also more likely to have poorer cognitive and educational outcomes in later childhood and adolescence. They are more likely to become less productive adults, and be less able to contribute to their nation’s growth. In addition to the mother’s and child’s dietary diversity, health care and hand washing and hygiene practices, improved sanitation determines a child’s health. Improved sanitation serves as a primary barrier to stop a child from digesting feces that causes disease and reduces the uptake of vital nutrients. Thus, the elimination of open defecation and unimproved sanitation should be a priority issue for policy makers who are concerned with maximizing the current and future human capital of their country. In simple terms: investing in sanitation means investing in a future generation of smart and productive adults