The authors use data from three waves of
the India National Family Health Survey to explore the
relationship between the month of birth and the health
outcomes of young children in India. They find that children
born during the monsoon months have lower anthropometric
scores compared with children born during the fall and
winter months. The authors propose and test four hypotheses
that could explain such a correlation. The results emphasize
the importance of seasonal variations in affecting
environmental conditions at the time of birth and
determining the health outcomes of young children in India.
Policy interventions that affect these conditions could
effectively impact the health and achievement of these
children, in a manner similar to nutrition and micronutrient
supplementation programs.