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Effects of birth order and son preference on utilization of pre- and post-natal health inputs in Punjab
Theresa Thompson Chaudhry1, Maha Khan2
1Lahore School of Economics.
Insights
Higher birth order children receive more prenatal and delivery care, but this effect lessens with socioeconomic factors. Son preference influences care, with families without a prior son showing higher utilization of safe delivery and total health inputs.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Demography
- Sociology
Background:
- Child health inputs are crucial for developmental outcomes.
- Understanding factors influencing healthcare access is vital for targeted interventions.
- Birth order and parental preferences can shape resource allocation within families.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of birth order and son preference on the utilization of prenatal, delivery, and postnatal child health services.
- To examine how socioeconomic status modifies the relationship between birth order and healthcare access.
- To identify potential son-biased fertility stopping behaviors linked to healthcare utilization.
Main Methods:
- Utilized cross-sectional data from the Multiple Cluster Indicators Study Punjab (2011).
- Analyzed data from all districts of the Punjab province, Pakistan.
- Employed statistical methods to assess the roles of birth order, son preference, and socioeconomic factors on child health inputs.
Main Results:
- Higher birth order correlated with increased prenatal inputs, safe delivery care, and total child health inputs, though these associations weakened with socioeconomic controls.
- Prenatal inputs showed positive associations with maternal education, household head education, and household wealth.
- Safe delivery care and total health inputs were higher in families lacking a prior-born son, suggesting son-biased fertility stopping behaviors.
Conclusions:
- Birth order and socioeconomic status significantly influence the receipt of child health inputs.
- Son preference appears to play a role in family planning and healthcare-seeking behaviors, particularly concerning safe delivery and overall child health.
- Maternal and household education are key determinants of prenatal care utilization.
Abstract:
The study planned to determine the roles of birth order and son preference on receiving prenatal, delivery care, and postnatal child health inputs, using cross-sectional data collected by the Multiple Cluster Indicators Study Punjab related to year 2011 from all districts of the Punjab province of Pakistan. Prenatal inputs, safe delivery care, and total child health inputs fall with higher birth order of the child, though these trends are diminished when household socioeconomic controls are added. Prenatal inputs increase with maternal education, household head education, and household wealth. Postnatal inputs have a weaker relationship with both birth order and maternal education. Safe delivery care and total health inputs are higher for families without a prior-born son, demonstrating son-biased fertility stopping behaviours by families.
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