The impact of the Female Secondary School Stipend Program on child health
Md Shahjahan,
Giulia La Mattina and
Padmaja Ayyagari
Journal of Health Economics, 2025, vol. 102, issue C
Abstract:
In this study, we examine the inter-generational effects of the 1994 Female Secondary School Stipend Program (FSSSP) on child health inputs and child health outcomes in Bangladesh. Prior studies have shown that the FSSSP significantly increased secondary schooling among rural girls. Applying a difference-in-differences model based on differential exposure to FSSSP by birth cohort and rural residence, we find that full immunization rates increased by 4.2 percentage points among children of mothers eligible for a stipend for 5 years relative to children of mothers who were not eligible, but there were no significant effects for children of mothers eligible for a stipend for only 2 years. We also find improvements in other health inputs (e.g., antenatal care) and in child health outcomes (e.g., mortality). We also explore changes in marriage, fertility, autonomy, labor supply, and media exposure, which may contribute to the observed improvements in child health.
Keywords: Maternal education; School stipend program; Child health; Bangladesh (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: H52 I12 J13 O12 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jhecon:v:102:y:2025:i:c:s0167629625000591
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2025.103024
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