Maternal education, child health and nutrition — evidence from China’s compulsory education law

The effect of maternal education on child health in China is studied by exploiting a change in the Compulsory Education Law from 1986. Data from four waves (2004-2011) of the China Health and Nutrition Survey are used. Variations across cohorts and provinces induced by the timing of the reform are used as instrumental variables to account for the endogeneity of education. Results show that mothers' educational attainment has significant and sizable positive effects on their children's health, as measured by height, weight and BMI Z-scores. Maternal education is associated with improved food structure (increased consumption of meat, egg, and dairy products) and healthier nutrient intake (increased share of calorie obtained from fat and proteins) of their offspring. Mothers who were exposed to the education reform are more knowledgeable about healthy diets and healthy behaviours than those not exposed and hence had fewer years of schooling.