@article{discovery10049670,
         journal = {Health, Economics, Policy and Law},
            year = {2018},
           title = {Family networks and healthy behaviour: evidence from Nepal},
           month = {May},
            note = {This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. The images
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          author = {Skordis, J and Pace, N and Vera-Hernandez, M and Rasul, I and Fitzsimons, E and Osrin, D and Manandhar, D and Costello, A},
            issn = {1744-134X},
             url = {https://doi.org/10.1017/S1744133118000130},
        abstract = {Models of household decision-making commonly focus on nuclear family members as primary decision-makers. If extended families shape the objectives and constraints of households, then neglecting the role of this network may lead to an incomplete understanding of health-seeking behaviour. Understanding the decision-making processes behind care-seeking may improve behaviour change interventions, better intervention targeting and support health-related development goals. This paper uses data from a cluster randomised trial of a participatory learning and action cycle (PLA) through women's groups, to assess the role of extended family networks as a determinant of gains in health knowledge and health practice. We estimate three models along a continuum of health-seeking behaviour: one that explores access to PLA groups as a conduit of knowledge, another measuring whether women's health knowledge improves after exposure to the PLA groups and a third exploring the determinants of their ability to act on knowledge gained. We find that, in this context, a larger network of family is not associated with women's likelihood of attending groups or acquiring new knowledge, but a larger network of husband's family is negatively associated with the ability to act on that knowledge during pregnancy and the postpartum period.}
}