Coresidence with mother-in-law and maternal anemia in rural India. (April 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Varghese, Rekha; Roy, Manan
• Is Part Of: Social science & medicine. Volume 226(2019)
• Page Start: 37
• Page End: 46
• Publication Date: 2019-04
• Subjects: Coresidence -- Joint-family -- Maternal anemia -- Iron supplementation -- Propensity score -- Difference-in-differences -- India; Social medicine -- Periodicals; Medical anthropology -- Periodicals; Public health -- Periodicals; Psychology -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Médecine sociale -- Périodiques; Anthropologie médicale -- Périodiques; Santé publique -- Périodiques; Psychologie -- Périodiques; Médecine -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 362.105
• DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2019.02.027
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0277-9536

Abstract

Abstract: In a highly patriarchal society such as India, and many Middle Eastern, African, and East Asian countries, coresidence with the mother-in-law is ubiquitous during the early years of marriage. During the period when women have to make crucial fertility decisions, they are under the supervision of the mother-in-law. Using the National Family Health Survey 2005–2006, and estimation strategies such as propensity score (PS) weighted regressions and a difference-in-differences type approach with PS matching, we estimate the causal effect of coresidence during pregnancy on maternal anemia among rural women in India. Here, coresidence and non-coresidence during pregnancy define our treatment and control, respectively. Women coresiding with both in-laws had fewer children, were younger, more educated, wealthier, and less likely to be Muslim and from scheduled castes and tribes compared to non-coresident women. Results indicate that the mother-in-law is a potentially valuable resource during pregnancy. For example, living with the mother-in-law reduced the likelihood of moderate to severe anemia by 13.2 percentage points compared to no coresidence. Under joint coresidence with both in-laws, the effect dropped to 8.5 percentage points. Moreover, women living with the mother in-law were 16.8 percentage points more likely to receive any iron supplementation. From a public health perspective and for policy making, the results indicate that safe motherhood programs should be augmented with awareness generation components which target the mother-in-law. Furthermore, pregnant women in nuclear families need particular attention. Highlights: Coresident mother-in-law beneficial for maternal anemia in rural North India. Coresident mother-in-law beneficial for iron supplementation in rural North India. Non-coresident rural North Indian women had the worst anemia outcomes.