Fetus, Fasting, and Festival: The Persistent Effects of In Utero Social Shocks

The Fetal Origins Hypothesis (FOH), put forward in the epidemiological literature and later flourished in the economics literature, suggests that the time in utero is a critical period for human development. However, much attention has been paid to the consequences of fetal exposures to more extreme...

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Main Author: Xi Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Kerman University of Medical Sciences 2014-09-01
Series:International Journal of Health Policy and Management
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.ijhpm.com/pdf_2889_4617bd4f2d36a64d5b97b806cbd996a2.html
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spelling doaj-a1bb07c747f24f979ba0dbafbed5636c2020-11-24T22:42:39ZengKerman University of Medical SciencesInternational Journal of Health Policy and Management2322-59392322-59392014-09-013416516910.15171/ijhpm.2014.92Fetus, Fasting, and Festival: The Persistent Effects of In Utero Social ShocksXi Chen0Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USAThe Fetal Origins Hypothesis (FOH), put forward in the epidemiological literature and later flourished in the economics literature, suggests that the time in utero is a critical period for human development. However, much attention has been paid to the consequences of fetal exposures to more extreme natural shocks, while less is known about fetal exposures to milder but more commonly experienced social shocks. Using two examples of under-nutrition due to mild social shocks, i.e. Ramadan fasting and festival overspending, this paper summarizes our current knowledge, especially the contribution from economics, and key challenges in exploring fetal exposures to milder social shocks. I also discuss the salient added value of identifying milder versus more extreme fetal shocks. Finally, implications are drawn on individual decisions and public policy to improve children’s well-being before they are born or even before their mothers realize that they are pregnant.http://www.ijhpm.com/pdf_2889_4617bd4f2d36a64d5b97b806cbd996a2.htmlIn UteroMaternal FastingRamadanGiftCeremoniesEarly Childhood Development
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Xi Chen
spellingShingle Xi Chen
Fetus, Fasting, and Festival: The Persistent Effects of In Utero Social Shocks
International Journal of Health Policy and Management
In Utero
Maternal Fasting
Ramadan
Gift
Ceremonies
Early Childhood Development
author_facet Xi Chen
author_sort Xi Chen
title Fetus, Fasting, and Festival: The Persistent Effects of In Utero Social Shocks
title_short Fetus, Fasting, and Festival: The Persistent Effects of In Utero Social Shocks
title_full Fetus, Fasting, and Festival: The Persistent Effects of In Utero Social Shocks
title_fullStr Fetus, Fasting, and Festival: The Persistent Effects of In Utero Social Shocks
title_full_unstemmed Fetus, Fasting, and Festival: The Persistent Effects of In Utero Social Shocks
title_sort fetus, fasting, and festival: the persistent effects of in utero social shocks
publisher Kerman University of Medical Sciences
series International Journal of Health Policy and Management
issn 2322-5939
2322-5939
publishDate 2014-09-01
description The Fetal Origins Hypothesis (FOH), put forward in the epidemiological literature and later flourished in the economics literature, suggests that the time in utero is a critical period for human development. However, much attention has been paid to the consequences of fetal exposures to more extreme natural shocks, while less is known about fetal exposures to milder but more commonly experienced social shocks. Using two examples of under-nutrition due to mild social shocks, i.e. Ramadan fasting and festival overspending, this paper summarizes our current knowledge, especially the contribution from economics, and key challenges in exploring fetal exposures to milder social shocks. I also discuss the salient added value of identifying milder versus more extreme fetal shocks. Finally, implications are drawn on individual decisions and public policy to improve children’s well-being before they are born or even before their mothers realize that they are pregnant.
topic In Utero
Maternal Fasting
Ramadan
Gift
Ceremonies
Early Childhood Development
url http://www.ijhpm.com/pdf_2889_4617bd4f2d36a64d5b97b806cbd996a2.html
work_keys_str_mv AT xichen fetusfastingandfestivalthepersistenteffectsofinuterosocialshocks
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