Maternal phenotype, independent of family economic capital, predicts educational attainment in lowland nepalese children.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Factors acting before children are born or reach school-going age may explain why some do not complete primary education. Many relevant factors relate to maternal phenotype, but few studies have tested for independent associations of maternal factors relative to those characterizing the family in general.

Methods

Using data from a longitudinal study of 838 children in Dhanusha, Nepal, we used logistic regression models to test whether indices of maternal somatic and educational capital, or family economic capital, were independently associated with children having had ≤2 versus 3+ years of schooling at a mean age of 8.5 years. We also tested whether maternal age, children's early growth, and urban/rural location mediated such associations.

Results

Children

SUBMITTER: Marphatia AA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5026068 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature