The Effect of Social Assistance on Early Childbearing in Vietnam: The Role of Migration

Abstract

The study analyzes the relationships among migration, early childbearing, and child well-being social assistance within the cluster level. Using data from the Vietnam Sustainable Development Goal Indicators for Children and Women survey (SDGCW) by the General Statistics Office (GSO) and the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) of Vietnam in the period 2020–2021, while applying Tobit models, the results show that the increase of households’ social assistance receipt will limit the likeliness of family members to make migration decisions, thereby decreasing early childbearing. The study is expected to be the basis for making implications to improve the policy system and social assistance programs aimed at minors, especially targeting the group of minor migrants with the goal of reducing early childbearing.