Improving Child Health and Cognition: Evidence from a School-Based Nutrition Intervention in India

A-Tier
Journal: Review of Economics and Statistics
Year: 2021
Volume: 103
Issue: 5
Pages: 818-834

Score contribution per author:

1.341 = (α=2.01 / 3 authors) × 2.0x A-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

We present experimental evidence on the impact of the use of double-fortified salt in school meals on anemia, cognition, and the learning outcomes of primary school children in rural Bihar, one of the poorest regions of India. We find that a year-long intervention had statistically significant positive impacts on hemoglobin levels and reduced anemia by 20%; however, these health gains did not translate into significant impacts on cognitive performance, test scores, and school attendance. Treatment effects on anemia and test scores were larger for children with higher school attendance. The findings indicate that school-based health interventions are a cost-effective and scalable approach for reducing anemia among school children in resource-constrained countries.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:tpr:restat:v:103:y:2021:i:5:p:818-834
Journal Field
General
Author Count
3
Added to Database
2026-01-25