The health effects of prenatal pesticide exposure by marital status

We examine the heterogeneous effects of pesticide exposure on neonatal health from the perspective of family structure, using a linear regression model. The research uses detailed data on pesticide spraying, neonatal health indicators, and maternal characteristics of infants whose mothers lived in proximity to banana plantations during pregnancy in Ecuador from 2015 to 2017. Our main contribution is to evaluate how does family structure modulate the risks of pesticide exposure to newborn health. The results indicate significant adverse impacts, with notable differences based on marital status. Newborns from non-marital and single-parent households show greater deficits in birth weight, as well as higher risks of preterm birth and low birth weight. The results underscore the importance of considering these disparities in maternal and child health policies, mainly across rural areas, to public policies targeted to pregnant woman, especially those from vulnerable family structures, that helps to mitigate pesticide exposure.