Maternal employment and children's health in India

An exploratory analysis

Datos Bibliográficos

ID12705465
AutoresJince Shajan (0000-0001-9440-4919, Department of Economics, School of Social Science and Humanities Central University of Tamil Nadu Thiruvarur India, autor de correspondencia), Bevinje Subbyamoola Sumalatha (Department of Economics, School of Social Science and Humanities Central University of Tamil Nadu Thiruvarur India, autor de correspondencia)
Año2020
Volumen22
Número3
Fecha de publicación2020-12-09
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaJournal of Public Affairs (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1472-3891 • E-ISSN: 1479-1854
EditorialWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/pa.2580
OpenAlexW3112009066
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas5
Referencias citadas30

This study explores the relationship between maternal employment and health status of children aged under 60 months in India. The study uses data from the nationally representative National Family Health Survey‐4 (2015–2016) of India, and the health status of children was measured using anthropometric indicators, mainly height‐for‐age Z‐score and weight‐for‐age Z‐score. The econometric analysis was performed using ordinary least squares, endogenous treatment effects, and logistic regression models. In general, the findings reveal that children whose mothers are employed have poorer health status compared to children whose mothers are unemployed. To deal with the diversified employment of working mothers, the relationship between maternal employment and children's health was analysed based on various occupational categories. The findings show that children whose mothers are employed in professional jobs have better health status, while children whose mothers are employed in agricultural and manual (skilled and unskilled) jobs have poor health status. Maternal education is found to be one of the important determinants of better child health. The study confirms that investment in female education will bring progress not only for women and their children but also for society as a whole

Anthropometry · Child health · Economics · Environmental health · Health services · Investment (military · Logistic regression · Maternal health · Ordinary least squares · Political science · Population · Sociology · Child Nutrition and Water Access · Demography · Employment and Welfare Studies · Medicine · Poverty, Education, and Child Welfare · Psychology · Pediatrics