Christianity and Infant Health in India

Nidhiya Menon and Kathleen McQueeney
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Kathleen McQueeney: Brandeis University

No 9177, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: This paper studies child health in India focusing on differences in anthropometric outcomes between the three main religions – Hindus, Muslims and Christians. The results indicate that Christian infants have higher height-for-age z-scores as compared to infants of other religious identities, and that this is especially true for infant girls in states with a relatively large Christian presence. We instrument for Christian identity today using data on the location of Protestant and Christian missions, the incidence of epidemic diseases and natural disasters, and political crises (wars) that mission establishing countries were engaged in during India's colonial history. The results are robust to a series of checks for instrument validity and omitted variables, and indicate that by inculcating awareness and spreading knowledge on sanitation and the scientific underpinnings of disease, the advent of Christianity has long-term health implications for India's children today.

Keywords: Muslim; Hindu; Christian; religion; child health; India (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I15 O12 Z12 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 68 pages
Date: 2015-07
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-evo, nep-hea and nep-his
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

Published - published as 'Christianity and girl child health in India' in: World Development, 2020, 136, 105109

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