THE ROLE OF MATERNAL EDUCATION IN ENHANCING CHILD HEALTH: FOCUS ON VACCINATION AND NUTRITIONAL STATUS

Abstract

While associations between maternal education and child health have been observed across various regions worldwide, the mechanisms elucidating how maternal education enhances child health outcomes remain elusive. This analysis utilizes data from the nationally representative India Human Development Survey conducted in 2004-2005 to explore four potential pathways that could explain the impact of maternal education on childhood immunization: enhanced human, social, and cultural capitals, as well as increased autonomy within the household. Examining data from 5287 households in India reveals a consistent positive correlation between maternal education and childhood immunization, even after rigorous adjustments for socio-demographic factors and fixed effects at the village and neighborhood levels. The analysis identifies two significant pathways: maternal human capital, particularly health knowledge, emerges as a critical advantage for mothers with primary education, while cultural capital, including communication skills, is found to be influential for mothers with some secondary education and beyond.