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Gender Gaps in Child Nutritional Status in Punjab, Pakistan

Author

Listed:
  • Theresa Thompson Chaudhry

    (Department of Economics, Lahore School of Economics, Lahore.)

  • Maha Khan

    (Department of Economics and Related Studies, University of York, UK.)

  • Azka Sarosh Mir

    (Center for Research in Economics and Business, Lahore School of Economics, Lahore)

Abstract

Child nutritional status has improved over the period 2008 to 2014 in Punjab, Pakistan's largest province with a population of over 100 million, as rates of severe stunting have declined by 8.6 percentage points and average height-for-age (HFA) has increased by 0.19 standard deviations. However, the nutritional status of children in Punjab is still quite poor in comparison to many Sub-Saharan African countries. Recent research from India suggests eldest son preference and son-biased fertility stopping patterns negatively impacts the nutritional status of other children in the household, especially daughters. In order to test for latent gender discrimination in Punjab, Pakistan, a culturally similar neighbour, we apply a finite mixture model to a sample of couples with at least one child of each gender, though we do not find any. We do find, however, that when there is a larger share of children without an elder brother, that is, there is no son or a son is born after several daughters, that the incidence of stunting is higher and average HFA z-score of a couple’s children is lower, using an OLS analysis. This suggests that some families might be increasing their fertility beyond the number of children they can support in pursuit of sons. In this way, couples’ preferences regarding the gender composition of their children can have subsequent effects on the longterm nutritional status of their children.

Suggested Citation

  • Theresa Thompson Chaudhry & Maha Khan & Azka Sarosh Mir, 2020. "Gender Gaps in Child Nutritional Status in Punjab, Pakistan," The Pakistan Development Review, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, vol. 59(2), pages 275-300.
    • Handle: RePEc:pid:journl:v:59:y:2020:i:2:p:275-300
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • I2 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education
    • I14 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Inequality
    • I15 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Economic Development

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