Do Children from Larger Families Have Worse Health Outcomes and Educational Attainment? A Case Study in Birbhum, India

Yat Chun Alan Lim, Student

Background As the global population grows and family sizes decrease, understanding the relationship between family size and child outcomes is crucial. This paper investigates this relationship in India, which became the world's most populous country in 2023. By examining data from India, the study aims to inform policies that promote positive child outcomes. Methods This MSc dissertation analyzes the relationship between family size and child health and education outcomes in Birbhum, West Bengal. Family size was measured using sibship size, while health outcomes were assessed through objective measures like BMI and mid-upper arm circumference, along with subjective data from mothers. Education outcomes were evaluated through school attendance and educational level, controlling for confounding variables such as parental education and occupation, child's sex, and religious affiliation. Findings Preliminary analysis revealed that children from smaller families were more likely to be enrolled in school (p<0.001) and achieve a higher education level (p=0.01). However, there was no significant association between family size and health outcomes. Logistic regression showed that larger families initially had poorer outcomes, but after adjusting for individual-level variables, the association weakened. The final model indicated a moderately significant effect of family size on education level (p=0.05).

Keywords: Family Planning and Contraception, Health and Morbidity, Population and Development, Population Policies

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