Health Science Monitor

Background The health of children under five is a key indicator of societal well-being and is strongly linked to maternal literacy. This study aims to investigate the relationship between parental literacy and child health in Iran, utilizing refined econometric methods.
Methods A total of 520 children aged 0-4 were randomly selected from 2,654 children born in the past 4 years in five different health centers in Urmia city. Data on the children’s health (height, weight, age) were collected along with socio-economic information about their parents to measure the HAZ (Height-for-Age Z-score) index. Two ordinary least squares regression models were used to assess the impact of parental factors on their children’s health status. Only variables that had previously demonstrated a statistically significant coefficient in univariate linear regression models were included in the final model.
Results The mean HAZ index for the children was -0.78, with no statistically significant difference between genders. The variables of parental literacy years and urban living had a statistically significant positive effect on the children’s health status in both models. Specifically, for each additional year of education, the average child HAZ index increased by 0.095 and 0.057 in the models for mothers and fathers, respectively.
Conclusion The findings of this study suggest that parental literacy, particularly maternal literacy, plays a critical role in promoting and improving the health status of children. Therefore, investing in women’s literacy, particularly for those who are disadvantaged or have limited access to education, can be a highly effective and cost-effective strategy.