Bridging Gaps in Child Health: The Role of Maternal Literacy and Socio- Demographic Inequalities in Uttar Pradesh

This study investigates the vital role of maternal literacy in shaping child health outcomes in Uttar Pradesh, a state grappling with widespread undernutrition, gender disparities, and persistent socio-economic challenges. Drawing on data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5, 2019–21), the paper employs multivariate analysis to explore how maternal educational attainment influences child nutrition indicators—stunting, wasting, and underweight—among children under five. Controlling for factors such as caste, place of residence, maternal age, and healthcare access, the findings reveal a strong and statistically significant association between higher maternal education and improved child nutritional outcomes. The study also finds that literate mothers are more likely to access healthcare services and adopt informed health and nutrition practices. Furthermore, under-five mortality rates are significantly higher among socio-economically marginalized groups, including those with limited education, rural residence, and teenage mothers—highlighting structural inequities in child health. By integrating evidence on social inclusion, human capital development, and health governance, the paper advocates for policies that prioritize maternal education as a strategic lever for breaking the intergenerational cycle of malnutrition and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in India’s most populous state. The findings reveal a strong, statistically significant association between maternal literacy and improved child health outcomes, underscoring the role of women’s education as a driver of inclusive human development . Educated mothers tend to access healthcare services more readily and demonstrate greater awareness in making decisions related to nutrition and immunization. The results highlight urgent policy needs to integrate maternal education more closely with child welfare and nutrition programs. By linking social inclusion , human capital development , and policy governance , the study offers actionable insights for designing gender-sensitive and education-centric health interventions . Strengthening maternal literacy is not only a health imperative but also a strategic pathway to breaking the cycle of malnutrition and achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs) in India’s most populous state. The paper begins with an introduction outlining the context, objectives, and hypotheses of the study (Section 1). Section 2 describes the data sources and methodological framework. Section 3 presents the empirical findings on the relationship between maternal literacy and child health outcomes. Section 4 explores policy implications emerging from the analysis, and Section 5 concludes with key insights and directions for future research.