Consequences of teenage childbearing on child health

Shubhashrita Basu and Devon Gorry

Economics & Human Biology, 2021, vol. 42, issue C

Abstract: This paper uses national longitudinal data to analyze the effects of having a teen mother on child health outcomes from birth to young adulthood. We use an empirical strategy that relies on miscarriages to put bounds on the causal effects of teen childbearing. Results show that having a teen mother does not have negative health consequences for children. In addition, children of teen mothers report fewer diagnosed disorders and conditions requiring medical attention. The results suggest that policies focused on delaying teen childbearing will not improve child health outcomes.

Keywords: Teenage birth; Infant health; Child health; Instrumental variables (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I14 J10 J13 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:ehbiol:v:42:y:2021:i:c:s1570677x21000435

DOI: 10.1016/j.ehb.2021.101019

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