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A Mother’s Voice: Impacts of Spousal Communication Training on Child Health Investments

Author

Listed:
  • Martina Bjorkman Nyqvist

    (Stockholm School of Economics)

  • Seema Jayachandran

    (Princeton University)

  • Celine Zipfel

    (Stockholm School of Economics)

Abstract

Building on prior evidence that mothers often have a stronger preference for spending on children than fathers do, we use a randomized experiment to evaluate the impacts of a communication training program for mothers on child health in Uganda. The hypothesis is that the training will enable women to better convey their knowledge and preferences to their husbands and, thereby, boost investments in children’s health. We find that the program increases spousal discussion about the family’s health, nutrition, and finances. It also increases women’s and children’s intake of animal-sourced foods as well as household spending on these foods. However, this did not impact households’ adoption of health-promoting behaviors or most child anthropometric measures in the short run.

Suggested Citation

  • Martina Bjorkman Nyqvist & Seema Jayachandran & Celine Zipfel, 2023. "A Mother’s Voice: Impacts of Spousal Communication Training on Child Health Investments," Working Papers 2023-11, Princeton University. Economics Department..
    • Handle: RePEc:pri:econom:2023-11
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • D10 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - General
    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • O12 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development

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