The Impact of Sanitation on Child Health in Vulnerable Populations: a Multicountry Analysis across Income Levels by Jesse Doyle Contreras A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Epidemiological Science) in the University of Michigan 2020 Doctoral Committee: Professor Joseph N.S. Eisenberg, Chair Associate Professor Veronica Berrocal, University of California, Irvine Associate Professor Rafael Meza Assistant Professor Jon Zelner Jesse D. Contreras
[email protected] ORCID iD: 0000-0002-9766-2945 © Jesse D. Contreras 2020 For my brother, Gabriel Contreras, who ensured that I could be here today. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank my advisor, Dr. Joe Eisenberg, for your support throughout my master’s and doctoral education. I came to Michigan barely knowing what a Ph.D. was, but your guidance helped me navigate many new worlds without ever feeling lost. Over six years, you have repeatedly helped me find the meaningful story behind my own words, as well as the best local restaurants across three countries, and I am a much better researcher thanks to you. I would like to thank Dr. Rafael Meza for your kindness and for bestowing me with countless lessons, epidemiological and otherwise. Thank you to Dr. Jon Zelner and Dr. Veronica Berrocal for helping me to expand my understanding of statistical methods, which I could not have done without you, and for making this a much better dissertation in the process. I would like to thank the individuals who allowed this research to happen, including all of my co-authors, the Department of Epidemiology administrative team, and the master’s interns who gave key support from the field: Maxwell Salvatore, Grace Christensen, Moira Dickinson, Ruth Thomas, and Marie Kaniecki.