Does the Delivery of Primary Health Care Improve Birth Outcomes?

Abstract

Community Health Centers (CHCs) deliver primary care to underserved populations by locating sliding-scale clinics in disadvantaged areas. We investigate how this policy affected infant health using the rollout of CHCs and a flexible event study framework with Vital Statistics natality data. We find that maternal access to CHCs improves infant health outcomes within seven years after their introduction. Treatment-on-the-treated estimates show a 25- to 42-gram increase in birth weight and a 9% to 16% reduction in the likelihood of low birth weight. These improvements can be explained by increased access to early prenatal care and reductions in maternal smoking.