A Mother’s Voice: Impacts of Spousal Communication Training on Child Health Investments

Björkman Nyqvist, Martina, Seema Jayachandran and Zipfel, Céline

No 17916, CEPR Discussion Papers from C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers

Abstract: Building on prior evidence that mothers often have a stronger preference for spending on children than fathers do, we use a randomized experiment to evaluate the impacts of a communication training program for mothers on child health in Uganda. The hypothesis is that the training will enable women to better convey their knowledge and preferences to their husbands and, thereby, boost investments in children’s health. We find that the program increases spousal discussion about the family’s health, nutrition, and finances. However, this does not increase overall adoption of health-promoting behaviors or improve child anthropometrics. One exception is that the communication training increases women’s and children’s intake of protein-rich foods as well as household spending on these foods.

JEL-codes: D13 J13 O12 O55 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023-02
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Working Paper: A Mother’s Voice: Impacts of Spousal Communication Training on Child Health Investments (2023)
Working Paper: A Mother’s Voice: Impacts of Spousal Communication Training on Child Health Investments (2023)
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