Abstract:
This paper examines the effects of increased connectivity in rural areas on
child health outcomes. In particular, it studies whether improved access to markets
for rural areas through an upgraded road network and greater openness, as
measured by village electrification status, has had a positive impact on child health
outcomes and awareness of health practices such as immunization and prenatal
care. Using a 16-year panel dataset from rural Pakistan, we estimate two iterations
of a probit model, where one examines the probability of child i being vaccinated
and the second estimates the incidence of use of prenatal care. The results support
the hypothesis that greater connectivity, as measured by road connectivity and
electrification, improves health outcomes by increasing the likelihood of
immunization and uptake of prenatal care.
