Efects of Long‑Term Malnutrition on Education Outcomes in Ghana: Evidence from a Panel Study
Date
2021
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Springer
Abstract
Aside the direct effect on GDP at the macro level, the microeconomic impacts of
undernutrition are also manifested in lower educational outcomes, reduced productivity and reduced lifetime earnings. This study sought to examine the effect of child
malnutrition on learning outcomes by exploiting a nationally representative panel
data which allow us to control for child-level unobserved heterogeneity in Ghana.
Using a random-effects and Poisson estimations, this study shows that while current
malnutrition affects children’s learning outcomes negatively, its effect may disappear in the future, especially with the implementation of appropriate interventions.
The study concludes that while nutrition matters for learning outcomes, so do other
educational inputs. Results are, however, diferentiated by individual and household
characteristics, including gender and locality. The evidence from this study serves
as a useful tool for improving policies and programmes that focus on early feeding
practices among pre-schoolers and improved nutrition of children of school-going
age.
Description
Research Article
Keywords
Malnutrition, Learning outcomes, Random effects, Cognitive skills, Ghana