The Early Advantage: How Antenatal Care Shapes Cognitive Development in India

Neha Adsul, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
Priya Rampal, Oxford Policy Management, Delhi, India
Sarthak Gaurav, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay

Introduction: The human brain undergoes critical development stages in utero and early childhood, with maternal influences playing a crucial role. Sir James Heckman has highlighted that economic inequality often stems from the "accident of birth," with parents, especially mothers, being key determinants. This study investigates whether maternal access to antenatal care (ANC) affects a child’s cognitive outcomes, with significant implications for developing countries, particularly in the post-COVID-19 context where ANC utilization remains challenging. Methods: This research uses data from the Young Lives longitudinal survey in Andhra Pradesh, India, tracking a cohort from ages 2 to 15 across five rounds. The key explanatory variable is maternal access to ANC, and the dependent variable is the child's cognitive performance, measured by the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT). Results: Multiple linear regression analysis reveals that lack of maternal access to ANC negatively impacts the child’s PPVT scores, particularly at age 8, with effects persisting until age 12. However, this association diminishes and becomes non-significant by age 15. Conclusion: The diminishing impact of ANC on cognitive outcomes by age 15 underscores the critical importance of early life interventions. Investing in maternal health during pregnancy enhances long-term cognitive development and life-cycle outcomes.

Keywords: Inequality, Disadvantage and Discrimination, Children, Adolescents, and Youth, Population Policies, Longitudinal studies

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