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The consequences of early childhood growth failure over the life course:

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  • Hoddinott, John
  • Maluccio, John
  • Behrman, Jere R.
  • Martorell, Reynaldo
  • Melgar, Paul
  • Quisumbing, Agnes R.
  • Ramirez-Zea, Manuel
  • Stein, Aryeh D.
  • Yount, Kathryn M.

Abstract

This paper examines the impact over the life course of early childhood growth failure as measured by achieved height at 36 months. It uses data collected on individuals who participated in a nutritional supplementation trial between 1969 and 1977 in rural Guatemala and who were subsequently reinterviewed between 2002 and 2004. It finds that individuals who did not suffer growth failure in the first three years of life complete more schooling, score higher on tests of cognitive skill in adulthood, have better outcomes in the marriage market, earn higher wages and are more likely to be employed in higher-paying skilled labor and white-collar jobs, are less likely to live in poor households, and, for women, fewer pregnancies and smaller risk of miscarriages and stillbirths. Growth failure has adverse impacts on body size and several dimensions of physical fitness in adulthood but does not have marked effects on risk indicators of cardiovascular and related chronic diseases. These results provide a powerful rationale for investments that reduce early-life growth failure.

Suggested Citation

  • Hoddinott, John & Maluccio, John & Behrman, Jere R. & Martorell, Reynaldo & Melgar, Paul & Quisumbing, Agnes R. & Ramirez-Zea, Manuel & Stein, Aryeh D. & Yount, Kathryn M., 2011. "The consequences of early childhood growth failure over the life course:," IFPRI discussion papers 1073, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    • Handle: RePEc:fpr:ifprid:1073
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. The consequences of early childhood growth failure over the life course
      by maximorossi in NEP-LTV blog on 2011-05-03 19:07:31

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    9. Voth-Gaeddert, Lee E. & Fikru, Mahelet G. & Oerther, Daniel B., 2022. "Limited benefits and high costs are associated with low monetary returns for Guatemalan household investment in water, sanitation, and hygiene technologies," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
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    11. Matthias Rieger & Sofia Karina Trommlerová, 2016. "Age-Specific Correlates of Child Growth," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 53(1), pages 241-267, February.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Chronic disease; early life growth failure; fertility; Human capital; Poverty; Undernutrition; Wages;
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