Do tuition-free lower secondary education policies matter for antenatal care among women in sub-saharan African countries?

Bose, B. and Raub, A. and Sprague, A. and Martin, A. and Bhuwania, P. and Kidman, R. and Heymann, J. (2024) Do tuition-free lower secondary education policies matter for antenatal care among women in sub-saharan African countries? [Publications (Pre-joining)]

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Abstract

Antenatal care (ANC) is critical to reducing maternal and infant mortality. However, sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) continues to have among the lowest levels of ANC receipt globally, with half of mothers not meeting the WHO minimum recommendation of at least four visits. Increasing ANC coverage will require not only directly reducing geographic and financial barriers to care but also addressing the social determinants of health that shape access. Among those with the greatest potential for impact is maternal education: past research has documented a relationship between higher educational attainment and antenatal healthcare access, as well as related outcomes like health literacy and autonomy in health decision-making. Yet little causal evidence exists about whether changing educational policies can improve ANC coverage. This study fills this research gap by investigating the impact of national-level policies that eliminate tuition fees for lower secondary education in SSA on the number of ANC visits.

Item Type:	Publications (Pre-joining)
Authors:	Bose, B. and Raub, A. and Sprague, A. and Martin, A. and Bhuwania, P. and Kidman, R. and Heymann, J.
Document Language:	Language English
Subjects:	Social sciences > Political Science > Systems of governments & states Social sciences > Education > Secondary education
Divisions:	Azim Premji University - Bengaluru > School of Development
Full Text Status:	Restricted
URI:	http://publications.azimpremjiuniversity.edu.in/id/eprint/6625
Publisher URL:	https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-024...

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