Metadata record for Replication data for: Traditional Beliefs and Learning about Maternal Risk in Zambia
113529
Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research
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V1
Replication data for: Traditional Beliefs and Learning about Maternal Risk in Zambia
113529
http://doi.org/10.3886/E113529V1
Nava Ashraf
Erica Field
Giuditta Rusconi
Alessandra Voena
Roberta Ziparo
Please see full citation.
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Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research
Ashraf, Nava, Field, Erica, Rusconi, Giuditta, Voena, Alessandra, and Ziparo, Roberta. Replication data for: Traditional Beliefs and Learning about Maternal Risk in Zambia. Nashville, TN: American Economic Association [publisher], 2017. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 2019-10-12. https://doi.org/10.3886/E113529V1
I11 Analysis of Health Care Markets
I12 Health Behavior
I14 Health and Inequality
I18 Health: Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
J13 Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
J16 Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
O15 Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
Maternal mortality remains very high in many parts of the developing world, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. While maternal deaths are observable, it may not be straightforward for individuals to learn about risk factors. This paper utilizes novel data on male and female perceptions of maternal risk in Zambia to document that superstitions about causes of maternal mortality are pervasive and to uncover evidence that such beliefs impede learning about maternal health risk levels and correlates. In our data, people who hold traditional beliefs disregard past birth complications completely in assessing future risk, unlike those who hold modern beliefs.