Mothers at Peace: International Peacebuilding and Post-conflict Fertility

Vincenzo Bove, Jessica Di Salvtore (), Lenadro Elia () and Roberto Nisticò ()
Additional contact information
Jessica Di Salvtore: University of Warwick
Lenadro Elia: Marche Polytechnic University.

CSEF Working Papers from Centre for Studies in Economics and Finance (CSEF), University of Naples, Italy

Abstract: A considerable body of empirical evidence indicates that conflict affects reproductive behaviour, often resulting in an increased fertility rate due to higher child mortality and limited access to healthcare services. Yet, we know much less about the effect of peace in a post-conflict setting. This study explores how the external provision of security affects fertility rates by focusing on the UN intervention in Liberia. By combining birth history data from three rounds of the Demographic and Health Survey with information on road distance to UN military compounds, we find that women who live in the proximity of peacekeepers have lower fertility rates in the deployment period. We find that this is due to parents prioritizing quality over quantity as peacekeepers improve maternal and child health and encourages family planning by (i) enabling donors and humanitarian actor to deliver infrastructures and services, and (ii) facilitating citizens’ access to such services.

Keywords: conflict; fertility; maternal health; child health; UN operations. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D74 F50 J16 J24 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023-02-22
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-dem, nep-dev and nep-hea
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https://www.csef.it/WP/wp670.pdf (application/pdf)

Related works:
Journal Article: Mothers at peace: International peacebuilding and post-conflict fertility (2024)
Working Paper: Mothers at Peace: International Peacebuilding and Post-conflict Fertility (2023)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sef:csefwp:670

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