Do Parents Selectively Time Birth Relative to Ramadan? Evidence from Matlab, Bangladesh∗

Studies examining in utero health effect of maternal fasting during Ramadan assume that parents do not selectively time birth relative to Ramadan. In Matlab, a region in Bangladesh, family planning program started in 1977 where women in treatment areas received free contraceptives door to door but control areas were not part of the program. Both treatment and control areas were very similar in observable characteristics before the program placement. Using MHSS 1996, we find women living in treatment areas six percentage points less likely to give birth 8 to 9 months after Ramadan after program placement. Moreover, mothers with more education are less likely to overlap pregnancy with Ramadan upon receiving free contraceptives. We examine the height, which reflects both genotype and phenotype influences in utero, of the children to their births relative to Ramadan. We find evidence which suggests presence of selection problem may lead us to wrong conclusion about the effect of maternal fasting on child height. JEL: C52, I12, O15, 017, Z12