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The Effects of Incentivizing Early Prenatal Care on Infant Health

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  • Kamila Cygan-Rehm
  • Krzysztof Karbownik

Abstract

We investigated the effects of the timing of early prenatal care on infant health by exploiting a reform that required expectant mothers to initiate prenatal care during the first ten weeks of gestation to obtain a one-time monetary transfer paid after childbirth. Applying a difference-in-differences design to individual-level data on the population of births and fetal deaths, we identified small but statistically significant positive effects of the policy on neonatal health. We further provide suggestive evidence that improved maternal health-related knowledge and behaviors during pregnancy are plausible channels through which the reform might have affected fetal health.

Suggested Citation

  • Kamila Cygan-Rehm & Krzysztof Karbownik, 2020. "The Effects of Incentivizing Early Prenatal Care on Infant Health," NBER Working Papers 28116, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
  • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:28116
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    JEL classification:

    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth

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