It is unclear, however, whether the benefits of these interventions are long-term, continuing into adolescence and adulthood, especially in environments where there are many competing health risks. Abstract: Early childhood health interventions, such as vaccinations, improve the health status of young children in developing countries. Somewhat younger children (8-14 years old in 1996), whose mothers benefitted from family planning and who themselves were eligible to receive the child health interventions (mainly immunizations), demonstrate a 0.38 standard deviation increase in cognitive
Intent-to-treat effects show no program effect on children aged 15-19 in 1996, who, while their parents may have benefited from family planning, were beyond the appropriate age for the child health interventions. This paper exploits a quasi-random placement of the Matlab Maternal and Child Health and Family Planning Program in Bangladesh to determine whether typical family planning and early childhood health interventions have lasting effects on cognitive functioning in late childhood and adolescence. Yet there is little evidence that the benefits of early childhood health interventions continue into adolescence and adulthood, especially in environments where there are many competing health risks.
It is believed that improvements received early in life may lead to improved cognitive development, health, educational achievements, and labor market opportunities. Abstract: Early childhood health and nutrition interventions have been shown to improve the health status of young children in developing countries.