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Early childbearing, human capital attainment and mortality risk

Author

Listed:
  • Cally Ardington

    (SALDRU, School of Economics, University of Cape TownAuthor-Email:)

  • Alicia Menendez

    (Harris School, University of Chicago)

  • Tinofa Mutevedzi

    (Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies)

Abstract

This paper uses a rich longitudinal dataset to examine the relationship between teen fertility and both subsequent educational outcomes and mortality risk in rural South Africa. Human capital deficits among teen mothers are large and significant, with earlier births associated with greater deficits. In contrast to many other studies, we find no clear evidence of selectivity into teen childbearing in either schooling trajectories or pre-fertility household characteristics. Enrolment rates among teen mothers only begin to drop in the period immediately preceding the birth and future teen mothers are not behind in their schooling relative to other girls. Older teen mothers and those further ahead in school for their age pre-birth are more likely to continue schooling after the birth. Following women over a six year period we document a higher mortality risk before the age of 30 for teen mothers that cannot be explained by household characteristics in early adulthood.

Suggested Citation

  • Cally Ardington & Alicia Menendez & Tinofa Mutevedzi, 2011. "Early childbearing, human capital attainment and mortality risk," SALDRU Working Papers 56, Southern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit, University of Cape Town.
    • Handle: RePEc:ldr:wpaper:56
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Nicola Branson & Cally Ardington & Murray Leibbrandt, 2013. "Trends in teenage childbearing and schooling outcomes for children born to teens in South Africa," SALDRU Working Papers 098, Southern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit, University of Cape Town.
    2. Kakal, T., 2015. "A tale of two sisters : Investigating the socio-economic outcomes of teen childbearing in South Africa," ISS Working Papers - General Series 604, International Institute of Social Studies of Erasmus University Rotterdam (ISS), The Hague.
    3. Branson, Nicola & Byker, Tanya, 2018. "Causes and consequences of teen childbearing: Evidence from a reproductive health intervention in South Africa," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 221-235.
    4. Jane Mariara & Andy McKay & Andy Newell & Cinzia Rienzo, 2018. "Gender gaps in the path to adulthood for young females and males in six African countries from the 1990s to the 2010s," IZA Journal of Migration and Development, Springer;Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit GmbH (IZA), vol. 8(1), pages 1-19, December.
    5. Cally Ardington & Till Bärnighausen & Anne Case & Alicia Menendez, 2016. "Social Protection and Labor Market Outcomes of Youth in South Africa," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 69(2), pages 455-470, March.
    6. repec:ldr:wpaper:98 is not listed on IDEAS
    7. Kristine Husøy Onarheim & Johanne Helene Iversen & David E Bloom, 2016. "Economic Benefits of Investing in Women’s Health: A Systematic Review," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(3), pages 1-23, March.
    8. Herrera Catalina & E. Sahn David, 2017. "Working Paper 281 - Early Childbearing, School Attainment and Cognitive Skills," Working Paper Series 2398, African Development Bank.
    9. Gunes, Pinar & Tsaneva, Magda, 2016. "The Effects of Early Pregnancy on Education, Physical Health and Mental Distress: Evidence from Mexico," Working Papers 2016-14, University of Alberta, Department of Economics.
    10. Catalina Herrera Almanza & David E. Sahn, 2018. "Early Childbearing, School Attainment, and Cognitive Skills: Evidence From Madagascar," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 55(2), pages 643-668, April.

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