Foreign aid and teenage childbearing

Abstract

Teenage childbearing has serious consequences for young mothers, their children, and society. This study estimates the impact of foreign aid projects on teenage fertility in Malawi. We combine georeferenced data on aid projects from 1998–2016 with individual-level fertility data. Identification relies on spatial and temporal variation in aid exposure and survey timing, with controls for project placement and teenage childbearing among older women not exposed to the intervention. Results show that aid to sexual and reproductive health, HIV/AIDS, and education significantly reduce teenage fertility, while other aid types have limited effects. Women who were exposed to relevant aid while of critical age were 15-25 percent less likely to have given birth as teenagers. Likely mediators include increased time in school, delayed entry into relationships, and postponed marriage.