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The Effects of Incentivizing Early Prenatal Care on Infant Health

Author

Listed:
  • 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
    Note: CH EH
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    Cited by:

    1. Daniel Auer & Johannes S. Kunz, 2021. "Communication Barriers and Infant Health: Intergenerational Effects of Randomly Allocating Refugees Across Language Regions," SoDa Laboratories Working Paper Series 2021-07, Monash University, SoDa Laboratories.
    2. Noghanibehambari, Hamid, 2025. "Revealed comparative disadvantage of infants: Exposure to NAFTA and birth outcomes," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    3. De Cao, Elisabetta & McCormick, Barry & Nicodemo, Catia, 2022. "Does unemployment worsen babies’ health? A tale of siblings, maternal behaviour, and selection," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    4. Lyu, Wei & Wehby, George L. & Kaestner, Robert, 2025. "Effects of income on infant health: Evidence from the expanded child tax credit and pandemic stimulus checks," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 101(C).
    5. Shi, Julie & Yang, Wanyu & Yuan, Ye, 2025. "Cover more for less: Targeted drug coverage, chronic disease management, and medical spending," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 172(C).
    6. Efobi, Uchenna & Adejumo, Oluwabunmi & Nnadozie, Obianuju & Omoju, Oluwasola & Ekisola, Adeniyi, 2024. "From subsidies to nutrition: Investigating effects among cohort children from the Subsidy Reinvestment programme in Nigeria," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 362(C).
    7. Cho, Hyunkuk, 2025. "Auspicious years, the birth of girls, and their birth outcomes," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 57(C).
    8. Krista Riukula, 2023. "The effects of screening for gestational diabetes," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 65(4), pages 1931-1964, October.
    9. Reader, Mary, 2023. "The infant health effects of starting universal child benefits in pregnancy: Evidence from England and Wales," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).

    More about this item

    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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