Maternal education and early childhood development: evidence from Jordan’s Demographic and Health Survey

Purpose This study examines the impact of maternal education on early childhood development (ECD) outcomes in Jordan, focussing on developmental milestones across health, learning and psychosocial domains for children aged 24–59 months. Design/methodology/approach The analysis draws on nationally representative data from the 2023 Jordan Demographic and Health Survey (JDHS), which includes the UNICEF-designed ECDI2030 module. Linear probability and probit models are used to estimate the effect of maternal education on overall ECD scores and domain-specific indicators. Subgroup analyses are conducted by child age, gender and household wealth. The study also examines potential mechanisms, including women’s empowerment, media exposure, age at marriage and fertility patterns. Findings The results indicate that maternal education is positively associated with ECD outcomes across all domains. The effects are strongest among girls, wealthier households and children aged 36–47 months. Each additional year of schooling raises the probability of a child being developmentally on track and increases the number of milestones achieved. Mechanism analysis suggests that maternal education contributes to better ECD by delaying marriage, reducing fertility and enhancing women’s participation in joint healthcare decisions. Originality/value This study is the first to examine the link between maternal education and early childhood development in Jordan, using nationally representative data. By combining a multidimensional and age-disaggregated approach with analysis of underlying mechanisms, this research contributes to the regional literature on education, gender and child development, and offers evidence-based insights to support policy efforts toward achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4.2.1.