Nutrition, Religion, and Widowhood in Nigeria

It is known that Muslim women in Nigeria have significantly worse nutritional status than their Christian counterparts. The paper first shows this difference explained by covariates including geographic location, ethnicity, household wealth, and women?s education. However, on accounting for observable characteristics, widows enjoy a higher widows, particularly rural areas. patterns are robust to village fixed effects confirmed mixed religion ethnic groups. data consistent with more favorable processes following widowhood among Muslims, namely inheritance practices remarriage options. Data violence confirm less likely be dispossessed of late husband's property or mistreated upon in-laws. chronically undernourished but nutritionally vulnerable marital shock.