Abstract
•Ownership of a bank account is associated with improved reproductive and maternal health services utilization and behaviour.•Observed associations are strongest in states where the utilization of studied services is far below the national average.•No association is found between women's ownership of a bank account and institutional delivery.
Highlights
Multi-country research documents that the combination of women's higher economic status and indicators of empowerment increase reproductive and maternal health care utilization in low and middle income countries, suggesting the potential value of women's economic empowerment for maternal health (Ahmed, Creanga, Gillespie, & Tsui, 2010)
The characteristics of women/mothers who report owning a bank account suggest that these women/mothers are selective on a number of characteristics associated with utilization of the selected health services and behavior
The estimated average treatment effect on the treated (ATT) values in treated and control groups are 0.502 and 0.470 respectively indicating that the current use of contraceptives increased by 3 percentage points because of ownership of a bank account
Summary
Multi-country research documents that the combination of women's higher economic status and indicators of empowerment (e.g., decisionmaking control) increase reproductive and maternal health care utilization in low and middle income countries, suggesting the potential value of women's economic empowerment for maternal health (Ahmed, Creanga, Gillespie, & Tsui, 2010). Evaluation studies indicate that women's participation in microfinance can significantly increase reproductive and maternal health services utilization and reduce maternal mortality (Orton et al, 2016), but there has been little examination of other forms of women's financial inclusion in terms of their association with maternal health. This study seeks to examine the association between ownership of a bank account, a growing form of financial inclusion for women, and reproductive and maternal health services utilization and behavior among a nationally representative sample of women in India. Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) was identified as one of the strategies directed towards improving the health of the women and children. In 2011 the Government of India expanded the JSY into Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram (JSSK) to promote compulsory postnatal care for the newborn and the mother, and the early initiation of breastfeeding. The Government of India expanded the NRHM into an overarching National Health Mission (NHM) which has two sub-components: NRHM and the National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) (Government of India, 2013)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
