Maternal Education and Child Nutrition: Evidence from the 2000 and 2005 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Surveys

I used the 2000 and 2005 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Surveys to analyze the effect of maternal education and its pathways on chronic and acute malnutrition in Ethiopia. The pathways examined in this study are socioeconomic status, maternal health-seeking behavior, maternal knowledge of health and family planning and reproductive behavior. I find that maternal education works through all except healthseeking behavior. I also find that maternal education and its pathways are more relevant and robust in explaining chronic than acute malnutrition. Socioeconomic status is the most important factor linking maternal education and child nutritional status. Although girls’ education is a high policy priority, it may take time before its direct and indirect impacts substantially improve child health outcomes. Faster results would require direct interventions on key elements of socioeconomic status