Does Ramadan Harm Infant Health? : Evidence from Ethiopia
- Subject health , religion , infant mortality , Ramadan
- Publisher 서강대학교 일반대학원
- Adviser 이수형
- Issued 2019
- Awarded 2019. 2
- Thesis degree 석사
- Major 일반대학원 경제학과
- URI entity http://www.dcollection.net/handler/sogang/000000064094
- UCI I804:11029-000000064094
- Language 영어
- Rights 서강대학교 논문은 저작권보호를 받습니다.
Abstract
This study examines the impact of religious practices on human capital in the context of Ethiopia. We focus on Ramadan, one of the central tenets of Islam, which leads mothers to reducing nutritional intakes during the daytime. We examine the extent to which exposure to Ramadan in utero affects mortality of Muslim infants. To estimate the causal impact, we exploit the time variation in the Ramadan due to the rotating Islamic calendar and child’s conception month. We find that the exposure to Ramadan in the first trimester has a significant negative effect on the child’s chances of survival within three months and within a year after birth. This negative effect is particularly severe among the less educated mothers and those residing in rural areas.
more