Comparing long-term educational effects of two early childhood health interventions

• Published in: Journal of health economics 2022-12, Vol.86, p.102693-102693, Article 102693
• Main Authors: Cortés, Darwin, Maldonado, Darío, Gallego, Juan, Charpak, Nathalie, Tessier, Rejean, Ruiz, Juan Gabriel, Hernandez, José Tiberio, Uriza, Felipe, Pico, Julieth
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Birth Weight; Child; Child, Preschool; Education; Educational Status; Humans; Infant, Low Birth Weight; Infant, Newborn; Kangaroo program; Kangaroo-Mother Care Method; Length of Stay; Long-run effects; Premature children
• ISSN: 0167-6296; 1879-1646
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2022.102693

We compare the educational effects of two medical protocols that mitigate long-term consequences of prematurity or low birth weight. The two protocols are Traditional Care (TC), which uses incubators, and Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) which replaces incubators for 24-hour skin-to-skin contact between newborns and caregivers. We concentrate on educational outcomes addressing contradictory results in previous contributions. We use a randomized controlled trial implemented in 1993 that randomly assigned children to either TC or KMC. OLS results suggest that KMC children spent more time in preschool, had fewer temporary school absences, and showed lower math test scores. Both groups observed similar effects on high-school graduation and language test scores. We correct for attrition, small sample, and multiple outcomes. Effects on preschool attendance and school absenteeism are robust, particularly for more vulnerable infants (birth weight ≤ 1,800 g). The other effects lose statistical significance due to multiple outcome testing or attrition corrections. •Premature birth and low birth weight explain major long-term loss of human potential.•Traditional Care and Kangaroo Mother Care may affect education outcomes differently.•KMC children attend preschool longer and are less likely to be absent from school.•There are no Math and Language test scores or high-school graduation differences.•Positive effects of KMC are present for children with a birth weight ≤ 1,800 g.