Discussion Papers 2018

CIRJE-F-1107	"Is Antenatal Care Effective? Experimental Evidence from Rural Nigeria"
Author Name	Takasaki, Yoshito and Ryoko Sato
Date	December 2018
Full Paper	PDF File
Remarks

Abstract
This paper examines whether antenatal care (ANC) practiced in rural Nigeria improves maternal and child health behaviors and outcomes. We randomize a cash incentive for one ANC visit and information about ANC at the village level. We examine the impacts of these one-shot interventions in the sequence of prenatal, intrapartum, and postnatal periods, over two years after birth. Non-incentivized subsequent ANC visits increased through learning from the incentivized visit (i.e., sustainability). Making the recommended ANC visits did not affect intrapartum care/outcomes, postnatal care, or child mortality. ANC was ineffective due to its low quality and limited female empowerment.

Abstract

This paper examines whether antenatal care (ANC) practiced in rural Nigeria improves maternal and child health behaviors and outcomes. We randomize a cash incentive for one ANC visit and information about ANC at the village level. We examine the impacts of these one-shot interventions in the sequence of prenatal, intrapartum, and postnatal periods, over two years after birth. Non-incentivized subsequent ANC visits increased through learning from the incentivized visit (i.e., sustainability). Making the recommended ANC visits did not affect intrapartum care/outcomes, postnatal care, or child mortality. ANC was ineffective due to its low quality and limited female empowerment.