The effects of in utero programs on birth outcomes: the case of Buen Comienzo

Cardona-Sosa, Lina and Medina, Carlos (2017) The effects of in utero programs on birth outcomes: the case of Buen Comienzo. Economía, 17 (2). 93 - 134. ISSN 1529-7470

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Abstract

This paper studies the effects of an in utero program on birth outcomes for vulnerable pregnant women. We use information from the Buen Comienzo program, an initiative run by the local government of Medellín, the second-largest city of Colombia. To identify the effects, we obtain matching estimates using data from program participants and national birth statistics. We find that the program increased the birth weight of participant children by 0.09 and 0.23 standard deviations for boys and girls, respectively, and reduced the prevalence of low birth weight by 2.6 and 4.6 percentage points for boys and girls, respectively. In terms of size, the program reduces the incidence of being short by 3 and 4 percentage points, for boys and girls, respectively. The program also significantly reduced preterm births between 3 and 8 percentage points. We also provide evidence of the existence of heterogeneous effects depending on a mother’s exposure to the program and her frequency of attendance. Finally, an estimate of the cost-benefit ratio of the program suggests that the benefits could be two to six times the costs, respectively, for boys and girls born to participant mothers with early exposure to the program.

Item Type:	Article
Official URL:	https://economia.lse.ac.uk/
Additional Information:	© 2017 LACTEA
Divisions:	LSE
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HC Economic History and Conditions R Medicine > RG Gynecology and obstetrics
JEL classification:	J - Labor and Demographic Economics > J1 - Demographic Economics > J13 - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth I - Health, Education, and Welfare > I3 - Welfare and Poverty > I38 - Government Policy; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs J - Labor and Demographic Economics > J1 - Demographic Economics > J18 - Public Policy
Date Deposited:	10 Jul 2024 14:15
Last Modified:	12 Dec 2024 04:15
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/123366

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