Work

Income-Nutrition Gradient and Intrahousehold Allocation in Rural Pakistan

Year: 2023

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To estimate the relationship between household income and child health outcomes for male and female children, aged 0-5 years, in rural Pakistan. METHOD: The study uses 2014 round of Pakistan Rural Household Panel Survey (PRHPS) and regression analyses to estimate the relationship between household income and child health outcomes for male and female children in rural Pakistan. RESULTS AND POLICY IMPLICATIONS: We find that increase in income is associated with an increase in child weight-for-age and weight-for-height z-scores, and reduction in the likelihood of a child being underweight or wasted. However, our results suggest that these gains associated with an increase in income are greater for male children as compared to female children. These differences in income-nutrition gradient can be explained by the gender-differences in consumption of health inputs (e.g., food intake, vaccinations, and nutritional supplements) associated with an increase in income. Our results indicate the need for policy instruments that can encourage an equitable resource allocation within households.

Source: Maternal and Child Health Journal

DOI: 10.1007/s10995-023-03633-4

Authors: Haseeb Ahmed, Hina Khalid

Institutions: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Washington Department of Social and Health Services

Language: English

Topic: Child Nutrition and Water Access

Subfield: Nutrition and Dietetics

Field: Nursing

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: No poverty, Reduced inequalities, Good health and well-being, Zero hunger, Gender equality

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,190