Access to antenatal care and its influence on children’s cognitive development

Abstract: Research has shown that maternal health affects later-life outcomes of children. Using data from the Young Lives survey in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, this article shows that antenatal care has an impact on the cognitive scores of children during mid-childhood, with scores increasing if mothers had between five and eight antenatal visits, with significant variations by caste. Based on this finding, the authors suggest that the government’s current mandate of a minimum of four antenatal visits is worth rethinking.