In a number of studies of the determinants of infant and child health,
maternal education emerges as perhaps the strongest socioeconomic predictor
of infant and child health (Cochrane et al. 1980; Cleland and van Ginneltin
1988; United Nations 1985; Hobcraft et al. 1985). However, e_,@'orts to
explain wig; more educated mothers have healthier children have been largely
inconclusive. if maternal education alters infant and child health risks, it must
affect [actor directly related to health, such as nutrien intake, exposure to
pathogens, susceptibility to pathogens, and two dimensions of behavior that
potentially affect infant and child health and survival: knowledge and use of
health services; and characteristics of the home environment that might affect
the transmission of diseases. Our result demonstrate a strong relationship
between maternal education and a number of health-related factors: the
absence of trash and waste in the vicinity of the home, adequate ventilation,
drinking and bathing water sources inside the home, electrification, ability to
identify specific health prenotal early use of prenatal care and delivery
assistance. The relatioships are robust to controls for household economic
status, childhood residence, and even to very rigorous controls for residence.
