Traditional Beliefs and Learning about Maternal Risk in Zambia
Nava Ashraf, Erica Field, Giuditta Rusconi, Alessandra Voena, Roberta Ziparo
American Economic Review · 2017 · Volume 107 · Issue 5
Abstract
Maternal mortality remains very high in many parts of the developing world, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. While maternal deaths are observable, it may not be straightforward for individuals to learn about risk factors. This paper utilizes novel data on male and female perceptions of maternal risk in Zambia to document that superstitions about causes of maternal mortality are pervasive and to uncover evidence that such beliefs impede learning about maternal health risk levels and correlates. In our data, people who hold traditional beliefs disregard past birth complications completely in assessing future risk, unlike those who hold modern beliefs.
Keywords
Analysis of Health Care Markets, Health Behavior, Health and Inequality, Health: Government Policy, Regulation, Public Health, Fertility, Family Planning, Child Care, Children, Youth, Economics of Gender, Non-labor Discrimination, Economic Development: Human Resources, Human Development, Income Distribution, Migration
Enable JavaScript for citation tools and additional paper interactions.