Does Weathering Explain Low Birth Weight in Uttar Pradesh? Findings From NFHS-5

The present study uses concept of weathering by evaluating maternal age birth and birth-weight associations across caste and religious groups in Indian context under the presumption that that disadvantaged caste and religious groups experience more rapidly deteriorating birth-weight outcomes at older ages than others. Caste and religion stratified average marginal effects of maternal age at birth on low birth-weight are estimated using data from 2015-16 and 2019-21 NFHS Uttar Pradesh data-files. The average marginal effect suggests no evidence of weathering across caste and religious groups in birth-weight patterns by maternal age at birth in Uttar Pradesh.