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Impact of maternal employment on child health and nutrition: Evidence from Nepal

Author

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  • Khushbu Mishra
  • Olga Kondratjeva
  • Abdoul G Sam

Abstract

The high prevalence of child undernutrition has detrimental consequences, including lower educational attainment and reduced lifetime earnings, thereby trapping many families in intergenerational poverty. Therefore, identifying the factors that influence child nutrition is an important policy issue. Using nationally representative data from Nepal, we investigate whether maternal employment improves child nutrition and growth, as measured by height-for-age, weight-for-age, and weight-for-height among children under five years of age. Applying coarsened exact matching and an instrumental variable approach, we find that maternal employment has no statistically significant effect on child nutritional outcomes. Maternal employment in Nepal may not improve child nutrition because income gains from predominantly informal work are offset by reduced time available for childcare and feeding. In addition, limited female bargaining power and control over household resources in patriarchal and gerontocratic households may weaken the link between maternal earnings and child health outcomes.

Suggested Citation

  • Khushbu Mishra & Olga Kondratjeva & Abdoul G Sam, 2026. "Impact of maternal employment on child health and nutrition: Evidence from Nepal," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 21(8), pages 1-17, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0355481
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0355481
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Rama Lionel Ngenzebuke & Yoko Akachi, 2017. "Female work status and child nutritional outcome in Nigeria," WIDER Working Paper Series 196, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    2. Ahmed Shoukry Rashad & Mesbah Fathy Sharaf, 2019. "Does maternal employment affect child nutrition status? New evidence from Egypt," Oxford Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 47(1), pages 48-62, January.
    3. Gram, Lu & Skordis-Worrall, Jolene & Mannell, Jenevieve & Manandhar, Dharma S. & Saville, Naomi & Morrison, Joanna, 2018. "Revisiting the patriarchal bargain: The intergenerational power dynamics of household money management in rural Nepal," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 193-204.
    4. Rama Lionel Ngenzebuke & Yoko Akachi, 2017. "Female work status and child nutritional outcome in Nigeria," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2017-196, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
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