Skip to main content
Springer Nature Link
Log in

The role of women’s empowerment on child nutrition in India: a longitudinal analysis

  • Published:
Environment, Development and Sustainability Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Child malnutrition remains a pervasive problem in India though there are significant improvements in several health indicators with country’s consistent economic growth. Along with other factors, maternal autonomy is considered to be critical in influencing health outcome of a child. This paper attempts to examine the determinants of nutritional measures of children under age five with the focus to the role of mother’s autonomy in India. There are studies which link characteristics of mother, like education, age, with nutrition of her children. But maternal autonomy is a complex subject as this variable is not tangible. Women’s autonomy in daily life is more likely to result in their better healthcare which in turn influences children’s birth weight and infant nutrition. We used nationally representative India Human Development Survey 2004–05 (IHDS- 1) and 2011–12 (IHDS 2) data for the analysis. This paper studies the association between maternal autonomy and childhood stunting, the indicator of chronic malnutrition, and the risk of having a stunted child. We have also used the panel data using both waves of IHDS and used mothers fixed effect model to evaluate the impact of maternal autonomy. The autonomy index is created using four dimensions-women’s decision making, freedom of movement, financial autonomy and attitude toward domestic violence. The two dimensions of autonomy—physical autonomy, financial autonomy—remain significant determinants for childhood stunting.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

Yes.

Code availability

Yes.

References

  • Ackerson, L. K., & Subramanian, S. V. (2008). Domestic violence and chronic malnutrition among women and children in India. American Journal of Epidemiology, 167(10), 1188–1196.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alderman, H., Lokshin, M., & Radyakin, S. (2011). Tall claims: Mortality selection and the height of children in India. Economics and Human Biology, 9(4), 393–406. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ehb.2011.04.007

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alkire, S., Meinzen-Dick, R., Peterman, A., Quisumbing, A. R., Seymour, G., & Vaz, A. (2012). The Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index. In IFPRI Discussion Paper 1240. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute.

  • Alsop, R., Bertelsen, M. F., & Holland, J. (2006). Empowerment in practice: From analysis to implementation. World Bank Publications.

  • Arulampalam, W., Bhaskar, A., & Srivastava, N. (2012). Does Greater Autonomy among Women Provide the Key to Better Child Nutrition? Economic and Social Research Council.

    Google Scholar 

  • Batliwala, S. (1994). The meaning of women’s empowerment: new concepts from action. In G. Sen, A. Germain, & L. C. Chen (Eds.), Population policies reconsidered: health, empowerment, and rights. Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bhagowalia P., Quisumbing A.R., Menon P. & Soundararajan V. (2012). What Dimensions of Women’s EmpowermentMatter Most for Child Nutrition? Evidence Using Nationally Representative Data from Bangladesh. In IFPRI Discussion Paper, 01192. International Food Policy Research Institute: Washington DC.

  • Black, R. E., et al. (2008). Maternal and child undernutrition: Global and regional exposures and health consequences. Lancet, 371(9608), 243–260. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(07)61690-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, J., Torres, S., Ryan, J., King, C., Campbell, D. W., Stallings, R. Y., et al. (1999). Physical and nonphysical partner abuse and other risk factors for low birth weight among full term and preterm babies: A multiethnic case-control study. American Journal of Epidemiology, 150, 714–726. [PubMed: 10512425].

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Castle, S. E. (1995). Child fostering and children’s nutritional outcomes in Rural Mali: The role of female status in directing child transfers. Social Sciences and Medicines, 40(5), 679–693.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chakraborty, T., & De, P. K. (2011). Mother’s autonomy and child welfare: A new measure and some new evidence. IZA DP. 5438, January.

  • Desai, Sonalde, Vanneman, Reeve, and National Council of Applied Economic Research, New Delhi. India Human Development Survey (IHDS). (2005). Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research, 2018-08-08. https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR22626.v12

  • Desai, S., & Johnson, K. (2005). Women’s Decisionmaking and Child Health: Familial and social hierarchies. A focus on gender: Collected papers on gender using DHS data.

  • Desai, S., Reeve, V., & National Council of Applied Economic Research. (2011). India Human Development Survey-II (IHDS-II), 2011-12. Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 2018-08-08. https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR36151.v6

  • Desai, S., & Alva, S. (1998). Maternal education and child health: Is there a strong causal relationship? Demography, 35(1), 71–81.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dharmalingam, A. (1996). Women’s work, autonomy, and birth control: Evidence from two south India villages. Population Studies, 50, 187–201.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Doan, R. M., & Bisharat, L. (1990). Female autonomy and child nutritional status: The extended-family residential unit in Amman, Jordan. Social Science & Medicine, 31(7), 783–789.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dreze, J., & Murthi, M. (2001). Fertility, education, and development: Evidence from India. Population and Development Review, 27, 33–63.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dyson, T. (1983). On kinship structure, female autonomy, and demographic behavior in India. Population and Development Review, 9, 35–60.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Engle, P. L., Menon, P., & Haddad, L. (1999). Care and nutrition: Concepts and measurement. World Development, 27, 1309–1337.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gaiha, R., & Kulkarni, V. (2005). Anthropometric Failure and Persistence of Poverty in Rural India. International Review of Applied Economics, 19(2), 179–197.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guha-Khasnobis, B., & Hazarika, G. (2006). Women’s status and children’s food security in Pakistan. Food security: Indicators, measurement, and the impact of trade openness, pp. 95–108.

  • Haddad, L., Achadi, E., Bendech, M. A., Ahuja, A., Bhatia, K., Bhutta, Z., & Reddy, K. S. (2015). The Global Nutrition Report 2014: actions and accountability to accelerate the world's progress on nutrition. The Journal of nutrition, 145(4), 663–671.

  • Hashemi, S. M., Schuler, S. R., & Riley, A. P. (1996). Rural credit programs and women’s empowerment in Bangladesh. World Development, 24, 635–653.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hoddinott, J., & Haddad, L. (1995). Does female income share influence household expenditures? Evidence from Côte d’Ivoire. Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics, 57(1), 77–96.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • IFPRI (International Food Policy Research Institute). (2017). 2017 Global Hunger Index: The Inequalities of Hunger. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute.

  • Imai, K. S., Annim, S. K., Kulkarni, V. S., & Gaiha, R. (2014). Women’s empowerment and prevalence of stunted and underweight children in rural India. World Development, 62, 88–105.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jejeebhoy, S. J. (1997). Women’s autonomy in rural India: Its dimensions, determinants, and the influence of context. In H. Presser & G. Sen (Eds.), Women’s empowerment and demographic processes: Moving beyond Cairo (pp. 204–238). Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jejeebhoy, S. J. (2000). Women’s autonomy in rural India: Its dimensions, determinants, and the influence of context. In H. Presser & B. Gita Sen (Eds.), Women’s empowerment and demographic processes: moving beyond Cairo. Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jensen, R., & Oster, E. (2009). The power of TV: Cable television and women’s status in India. The Quarterly Journal of Economics., 124(3), 1057–1094.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Joshi, A. R. (1994). Maternal schooling and child health: A preliminary analysis of the intervening mechanisms in rural Nepal. Health Transition Review, 4(1), 1–26.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kabeer, N. (1999). Resources, agency, achievements: reflections on the measurement of women’s empowerment. Development and Change, 30(3), 435–464.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kishor, S. (2000). Empowerment of women in Egypt and links to the survival and health of their infants. In H. Presser & G. Sen (Eds.), Women’s empowerment and demographic processes (pp. 119–158). Oxford University Press.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Kravdal, O. (2004). Child mortality in India: The community-level effect of education. Population Studies, 58, 177–192.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Malhotra, A., Schuler, S. R. & Boender, C. (2002). Measuring Women’s Empowerment as a Variable in International Development. In Working Paper, World Bank.

  • Mason, K., & Smith, H. L. (2000). Husband’s versus wives’ fertility goals and use of contraception: the influence of gender context in five Asian countries. Demography, 37, 299–311.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mehra, R. (1997). Women, empowerment and economic development. Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 554, 136–149.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Murray, C. J. L., & Lopez, A. D. (1997). Global mortality, disability, and the contribution of risk factors: Global Burden of Disease Study. The Lancet, 349, 1436–1442.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ramalingaswami, V., U. Jonsson, & Rohde, J. (1996). Commentary: The Asian enigma. In The progress of nations 1996. United Nations Children’s Fund.

  • Rubalcava, L., Teruel, G., & Thomas, D. (2009). Investments, time preferences, and public transfers paid to women. Economic Development and Cultural Change, 57(3), 507–538.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sen, A. (1999). Commodities and capabilities. OUP Catalogue.

  • Shroff, M., Griffiths, P., Adair, L., Suchindran, C., & Bentley, M. (2009). Maternal autonomy is inversely related to child stunting in Andhra Pradesh, India. Maternal & Child Nutrition, 5(1), 64–74.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, L. C., & Haddad, L.J. (2000). Explaining child malnutrition in developing countries: A cross-country analysis. (Vol. 111). Intl Food Policy Res Inst.

  • Smith, L. C., Ramakrishnan, U., Ndiaye, A., Haddad, L., & Martorell, R., (2003a). The Importance of Women’s Status for Child Nutrition in Developing Countries.Research Report 131. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. Retrieved from www.ifpri.org/sites/default/files/publications/rr131.pdf

  • Spears, D. (2013). How much international variation in child height can sanitation explain? In Policy research working paper no. 6351. World Bank.

  • Spears, D. (2012). Height and cognitive achievement among Indian children. Economics & Human Biology, 10(2), 210–219.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thomas, D. (1994). Like father, like son: Like mother, like daughter: parental resources and child height. Journal of Human Resources, 29(4), 950–988.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). (2007). The State of The World’s Children 2007: Women and Children: the Double Divided of Gender Equality. UNICEF.

  • United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). (2013). The right ingredients: the need to invest in child nutrition. In Child Nutrition Report 2013. UNICEF.

  • WHO Multicentre Growth Reference Study Group, & de Onis, M. (2006). Reliability of anthropometric measurements in the WHO Multicentre Growth Reference Study. Acta Paediatrica, 95, 38–46.

  • World Health Organization. (2014). Children: reducing mortality. Weekly Epidemiological Record= Relevé épidémiologique hebdomadaire, 89(38), 418–420.

Download references

Acknowledgements

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Funding

No funding.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Economics Department, St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata, India

    Poulami Chatterjee

  2. Centre for the Study of Regional Development, School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India

    Amaresh Dubey

Authors
  1. Poulami Chatterjee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  2. Amaresh Dubey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Poulami Chatterjee.

Ethics declarations

Conflicts of interest

The author declares no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Appendix

Appendix

See Tables

Table 10 Correlation Matrix of continuous variables in regression.
Full size table

10 and

Table 11 VIF Tables for independent variables in regressions.
Full size table

11.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Chatterjee, P., Dubey, A. The role of women’s empowerment on child nutrition in India: a longitudinal analysis. Environ Dev Sustain 26, 14139–14162 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-023-03183-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-023-03183-3

Keywords

JEL Classification