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Does greater autonomy among women provide the key to better child nutrition?

Author

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  • Arulampalam, Wiji
  • Bhaskar, Anjor
  • Srivastava, Nisha
Abstract
We examine the link between a mother’s autonomy - the freedom and ability to think, express, act and make decisions independently - and the nutritional status of her children. We design a novel statistical framework that accounts for cultural and traditional environment, to create a measure of maternal autonomy, a concept that has rarely been examined previously as a factor in children’s nutritional outcomes. Using data from the Third Round of the National Family Health Survey for India, supplemented with our qualitative survey, and accounting for “son preference” by limiting analysis to first-born children under 18 months of age, we document that maternal autonomy has a positive impact on the long-term nutritional status of rural children. We find that one standard deviation increase in maternal autonomy score (i) is associated with a 10 percent reduction (representing 300,000 children) in the prevalence of stunting, and (ii) compensates for half of the estimated average decline in Height-for Age Zscores Indian children experience in the second six months of life. The findings underscore the importance of women’s empowerment in improving children’s nutrition during the critical first two years of life, a recognized “window of opportunity” for lifelong health and economic benefits.

Suggested Citation

  • Arulampalam, Wiji & Bhaskar, Anjor & Srivastava, Nisha, 2016. "Does greater autonomy among women provide the key to better child nutrition?," Economic Research Papers 269577, University of Warwick - Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:uwarer:269577
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.269577
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    Cited by:

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    2. Peng Nie & Anu Rammohan & Wencke Gwozdz & Alfonso Sousa-Poza, 2019. "Changes in Child Nutrition in India: A Decomposition Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-22, May.
    3. Adediran, Olanrewaju Adewole, 2024. "The effect of women's decision-making on child nutritional outcomes in South Africa," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 53(C).
    4. Azka Rehman & Qing Ping & Amar Razzaq, 2019. "Pathways and Associations between Women’s Land Ownership and Child Food and Nutrition Security in Pakistan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-18, September.
    5. Ray, Rita, 2020. "Mother’s autonomy and child anemia: A case study from India," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 112(C).
    6. Nguyen-Phung, Hang Thu, 2023. "The impact of maternal education on child mortality: Evidence from an increase tuition fee policy in Vietnam," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 96(C).
    7. James Manley & Vanya Slavchevska, 2019. "Are cash transfers the answer for child nutrition in sub‐Saharan Africa? A literature review," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 37(2), pages 204-224, March.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Financial Economics; Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety;

    JEL classification:

    • C38 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Classification Methdos; Cluster Analysis; Principal Components; Factor Analysis
    • I14 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Inequality
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health

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