Unlocking Health Potential: Effects of Free Maternal and Child Health Program

We investigate the health impacts of Nigeria’s free maternal and child health program (FMCHP), leveraging variation in exposure to the program across births to the same mother. Results show reduced under-five mortality, with effects more pronounced in disadvantaged populations. The decline in under-five mortality is higher in areas with more healthcare services. Increased demand for preventive care likely drives improvements in under-five mortality. The FMCHP prevents a child’s death at approximately 54% of annual household expenditure. Our findings suggest that improving access to institutional healthcare during pregnancy improves maternal and child health outcomes in areas with low healthcare utilization. These conclusions are robust to various empirical checks.