"The Impact of Women's Literacy on Child Health and Its Interaction with Access to Health Services.

Gender bias among children in India in their diet and immunisation against disease

“…There is a body of evidence to suggest that the number of children born to a woman is inversely related to her level of education (Borooah, 2000;Parikh and Gupta, 2001;Borooah, 2002). Furthermore, there is considerable evidence to suggest that children's health (including the likelihood of their surviving infancy and childhood), nutritional status and educational attainments are enhanced by having better educated parents, particularly the mother (Behrman and Wolfe, 1984;Thomas, Strauss and Henriques, 1991;Sandiford, Cassel, Montenegro and Sanchez, 1995;Lavy, Strauss, Thomas and de Vreyer, 1996;Ravallion and Wodon, 2000;Gibson, 2001). Evidence also suggests that a farm-household's total income depends upon the highest education level reached by a household member rather than by the mean educational level of the household or by the educational level of the household head (Foster and Rosensweig, 1996).…”

Adult literacy programs in developing countries

“…In addition, a study of the Nicaraguan Cruzada Nacional de Alfabetización (CNA) found an effect on child mortality from participation in an ALP that was comparable to two years of formal education [9]. Similarly, in Nepal it has been found that a graduate of a nine-month ALP can master the skills of a fifth or sixth grader from the formal education system [6].…”

“…In Nicaragua, female participants of the CNA have been found to be more likely to send their children to school, and to keep them there [9]. ALP participants in Bangladesh also reported sending their children to school more often than non-participants, though it appears unclear whether this was due to learning to read or due to messages about children's schooling transmitted in ALP classes [6].…”

“…In Nicaragua, for example, women who participated in the CNA in the 1980s tended to have fewer children and to experience lower child mortality [9]. Similarly, Ghanaian mothers who participated in ALPs have been found to experience lower child mortality [4].…”

Youth Empowerment in Oppressive Systems: Opportunities for School Consultants

“…There is a need, therefore, to incorporate womenspecific issues into empowerment interventions (165). Improved education for women, including adult literacy and empowerment have been associated with improved child health (166,167) and reduced fertility (168). Although increasing educational opportunities for women is critically important, microenterprises have been identified as a faster route to improving health, on the hypothesis that women with income-generating power will spend their resources on family and children's health.…”