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Many literate women acquire reading skills during primary education. However, possessing literacy may merely reflect familial affluence or a strong emphasis on education within the household. A recent study in Nicaragua, though, has dispelled these assumptions by demonstrating that teaching reading to impoverished adult women significantly improves their children's health outcomes and chances of survival.
Nicaragua initiated various social programs in 1979, including a National Literacy Crusade. By 1985, approximately 300,000 illiterate adults, many with no prior schooling, gained literacy and numeracy skills.
During this period, researchers from renowned institutions such as the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and the Central American Institute of Health, in collaboration with local entities, surveyed around 3,000 women. These women had varying literacy backgrounds: some learned as children, others during the literacy campaign, and some remained illiterate. The survey assessed their childbirth and infant mortality rates, alongside the nutritional status of surviving children.
The results of the research were remarkable. In the late 1970s, the mortality rate among infants born to illiterate mothers stood at approximately 110 per thousand live births. At the same stage of life, those mothers who later acquired literacy showed a similar child mortality rate (105/1000). In contrast, mothers educated in primary schools experienced a notably lower infant mortality rate of 80 per thousand.
By 1985, post the National Literacy Crusade, the infant mortality rates for both the illiterate and primary-educated women remained relatively stable. However, women who gained literacy through the campaign saw a significant drop in infant mortality to 84 per thousand, a noteworthy 21 points lower than that of illiterate women. Additionally, the offspring of newly literate mothers exhibited better nutritional status compared to those of non-literate women.
What accounts for the improved well-being of children with literate mothers? Peter Sandiford from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine admits that the precise reasons remain unclear. As child health wasn't part of the women's curriculum, he and his team are investigating other potential factors. They are collaborating with the same cohort of 3,000 women to explore whether literate mothers utilize healthcare facilities more effectively, opt for smaller families, exert greater household control, grasp modern childcare techniques faster, or simply exhibit more self-respect and care towards themselves and their children.
The findings from the Nicaraguan study could carry significant implications for governments and aid organizations seeking direction for resource allocation. Sandiford asserts that there is mounting evidence indicating that female education, regardless of age, constitutes a crucial health intervention in itself. These study results align with the World Bank's advocacy for increased education budgets in developing nations, not only to bolster economies but also to enhance child health outcomes.
John Cleland from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine notes, 'The importance of maternal education has long been recognized, but there was a belief that the benefits would only manifest after a generation. The Nicaraguan study suggests we may see positive outcomes sooner than expected.'
Cleland cautions that the Nicaraguan literacy campaign stood out in various aspects, and duplicating similar efforts elsewhere may not yield comparable results. Teaching adults skills without immediate practical application is notoriously challenging, and many literacy campaigns in other regions have faced limited success. Cleland remarks, 'The campaign was part of a broader initiative to enhance people's quality of life.' Replicating these circumstances in different countries presents a significant challenge for development practitioners.
Questions 1-5
Complete the summary using the list of words, A-J, below.
Write the correct letter, A-J, in boxes 1-5 on your answer sheet.
NB You may use any letter more than once.
The Nicaraguan National Literacy Crusade aimed to teach large numbers of illiterate 1 … to read and write. Public health experts have known for many years that there is a connection between child health and 2 … However, it has not previously been known whether these two factors were directly linked or not. This question has been investigated by 3 … in Nicaragua. As a result, factors such as 4 … and attitudes to children have been eliminated, and it has been shown that 5 … can in itself improve infant health and survival.
| A | child literacy | B men and women | C an international research team |
| D | medical care | E mortality
| F maternal literacy |
| G | adults and children | H paternal literacy | I a National Literacy Crusade |
| J | family wealth |
Questions 6-11
Do the following statements agree with the claims of the writer in Reading Passage 2?
In boxes 6-11 on your answer sheet, write .
YES if the statement agrees with the claims of the writer
NO if the statement contradicts the claims of the writer
NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this
6 About a thousand of the women interviewed by the researchers had learnt to read when they were children.
7 Before the National Literacy Crusade, illiterate women had approximately the same levels of infant mortality as those who had learnt to read in primary school.
8 Before and after the National Literacy Crusade, the child mortality rate for the illiterate women stayed at about 110 deaths for each thousand live births.
9 The women who had learnt to read through the National Literacy Crusade showed the greatest change in infant mortality levels.
10 The women who had learnt to read through the National Literacy Crusade had the lowest rates of child mortality.
11 After the National Literacy Crusade, the children of the women who remained illiterate were found to be severely malnourished.
Questions 12-13
Choose TWO letters, A-E.
Write the correct letters in boxes 12 and 13 on your answer sheet.
Which TWO important implications drawn from the Nicaraguan study are mentioned by the writer of the passage?
A It is better to educate mature women than young girls.
B Similar campaigns in other countries would be equally successful.
C The effects of maternal literacy programmes can be seen very quickly.
D Improving child health can quickly affect a country’s economy.
E Money spent on female education will improve child health.
Answers:
- B – men and women (Đoạn 3, “In 1979, the government of Nicaragua established a number of social programmes, … Illiterate adults from all over the country, many of whom had never attended primary school, had learnt how to read, write and use numbers.” → Adults = Men and women)
- F – maternal literacy (Đoạn 1, “Children in developing countries are healthier and more likely to survive past the age of five when their mothers can read and write. Experts In public health accepted this idea decades ago…”)
- C – an international research team (Đoạn 4, “esearchers from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, … some during the literacy crusade and some who had never learnt at all.”)
- J – family wealth
- F – maternal literacy
- NOT GIVEN (Không có thông tin về việc phụ nữ có học đọc từ khi còn nhỏ hay không.)
- NO (Đoạn 5, “ In the late 1970s, the infant mortality rate for the children …, the Infant mortality rate was significantly lower, at 80 per thousand.” → Tỷ lệ khác nhau, 80 và 110)
- YES (Đoạn 6, “In 1985, after the National Literacy Crusade had ended, the infant mortality figures for those who remained illiterate and for those educated In primary school remained more or less unchanged.” → tỷ lệ giữ nguyên)
- YES (Đoạn 6, “For those women who learnt to read through the campaign, the infant mortality rate was 84 per thousand, an impressive 21 points lower than for those women who were still Illiterate.” → Giảm 21 điểm)
- NO (Đoạn 6, “ For those women who learnt to read through the campaign, the infant mortality rate was 84 per thousand,…”
- NOT GIVEN (Không có thông tin về việc trẻ em bị suy dinh dưỡng)
- E (Đoạn 8, “ The results of the study lend support to the World Bank’s recommendation that education budgets in developing countries should be increased, not just to help their economies, but also to improve child health.” → E)
- C (Đoạn 9, “’We’ve known for a long time that maternal education is important,’ says John Cleland of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. ‘But we thought that even if we started educating girls today, we’d have to wait a generation for the pay off. The Nicaraguan study suggests we may be able to bypass that.’” → C)
