What Better Road Infrastructure Means For Maternal Health
A study finds that improved road access led to an increase in institutional deliveries and antenatal care visits.
Shilpa Aggarwal
Associate Professor of Economics and Public Policy. As a development economist, her research explores market linkages in developing countries, with a current focus on agricultural supply chains in India and East Africa. She also studies domestic trade, microfinance, and food policy.
Video Summary
Can building a road help save lives? In this episode of The Big Picture, Professor Shilpa Aggarwal discusses how improved road infrastructure expanded access to reproductive health services. Her study finds that new road construction led to a rise in institutional deliveries and antenatal visits, resulting in better medical care and higher vaccination coverage, particularly for girls. Notably, most of these improvements in natal and ante-natal care stemmed from repeat visits by existing patients, with some contribution from new patients entering the formal healthcare system.
Authored by ISB Editorial