A study found that people with more access to clean water and soap were often taller. Harmful parasites and other ailments caused by improper hygiene can steal important nutrients from the body.
Children under the age of five had "small but significant" differences in growth, the Indian Express reported.
Researchers conducted studies in lower and mid income countries such as: "Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Chile, Guatemala, Pakistan, Nepal, South Africa, Kenya and Cambodia."
The team analyzed data from 9,469 children.
"For the first time our analysis suggests that better access to these services may also have a small but important impact on the growth of young children," lead author Dr Alan Dangour, said.
While more studies are needed to make a solid correlation between hygiene and health, the trial concluded access to clean drinking water and appropriate hand washing could reduce stunting in young children by up to 15 percent.
The team found children with better hygiene and who enjoyed cleaner water qualities were 0.5 centimeters taller.
"This is potentially an extremely important finding, that identifies that improving access to water, sanitation and hygiene could be a key part of the tool kit to tackle the global burden of under-nutrition," Dangour said.
About 165 million children worldwide experience some growth stunting.
Under nutrition is also a huge contributor to growth stunting. Under nutrition is responsible for about 3.1 annual deaths, The Telegraph reported.
Providing clean water, sanitation and hygiene is an effective way to reduce the incidence and associated deaths from diseases such as diarrhea - which remains the third biggest killer of under-fives worldwide. For the first time our analysis suggests that better access to these services may also have a small but important impact on the growth of young children," Dangour said.
The use of clean soap and water is "one of the best ways to prevent contracting diarrhea and stopping young children losing the essential nutrients vital for them to grow," Professor Tim Wheeler, deputy chief scientific adviser to the DfID, said.
