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Household Economic Well-being and Child Health in the Democratic Republic of Congo

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  • Janvier Mwisha Kasiwa

    (Department of Economics, University of Goma)

Abstract

This paper investigates the effects of economic wellbeing of households on child health in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) using data from the Demographic and Health Survey for 2014. A series of econometric tools are used to estimate the effects. The control function approach is shown to be the most appropriate estimation method. The results show that an increase in household economic wellbeing reduces child malnutrition. It is also found that younger children are more likely to be underweight, and that birth weight is a significant determinant of nutritional status up to age five. The main policy implication of the paper is that creation of jobs and other economic opportunities would enhance child health in DRC via improvements in living conditions.

Suggested Citation

  • Janvier Mwisha Kasiwa, 2018. "Household Economic Well-being and Child Health in the Democratic Republic of Congo," Journal of African Development, African Finance and Economic Association (AFEA), vol. 20(1), pages 48-58.
    • Handle: RePEc:afe:journl:v:20:y:2018:i:1:p:48-58
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Satvika Chalasani & Shea Rutstein, 2014. "Household wealth and child health in India," Population Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 68(1), pages 15-41, March.
    2. Germano Mwabu, 2009. "The Production of Child Health in Kenya: A Structural Model of Birth Weight," Journal of African Economies, Centre for the Study of African Economies, vol. 18(2), pages 212-260, March.
    3. Gary S. Becker & Nigel Tomes, 1994. "Human Capital and the Rise and Fall of Families," NBER Chapters, in: Human Capital: A Theoretical and Empirical Analysis with Special Reference to Education, Third Edition, pages 257-298, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    4. Heckman, James, 2013. "Sample selection bias as a specification error," Applied Econometrics, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA), vol. 31(3), pages 129-137.
    5. Jemima Frimpong & Dozie Okoye & Roland Pongou, 2016. "Economic Growth, Health Care Reform, and Child Nutrition in Ghana," Journal of African Development, African Finance and Economic Association (AFEA), vol. 18(2), pages 41-60.
    6. Case, Anne & Fertig, Angela & Paxson, Christina, 2005. "The lasting impact of childhood health and circumstance," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 24(2), pages 365-389, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Joseph I. Uduji & Elda N. Okolo-Obasi & Simplice A. Asongu, 2019. "Multinational Oil Companies in Nigeria and Corporate Social Responsibility in the HIV/AIDS Response in Host Communities," CEREDEC Working Papers 19/012, Centre de Recherche pour le Développement Economique (CEREDEC).
    2. Edafe, Oluwatosin D. & Osabuohien, Evans & Matthew, Oluwatoyin & Osabohien, Romanus & Khatoon, Rehmat, 2023. "Large-scale agricultural investment and female employment in African communities: Quantitative and qualitative insights from Nigeria," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 127(C).
    3. Janvier Mwisha-Kasiwa & Cédrick M. Kalemasi & Oasis Kodila-Tedika, 2024. "Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) Practices and Children’s Nutritional Status in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): Evidence from Demographic and Health Surveys," Working Papers 24/023, European Xtramile Centre of African Studies (EXCAS).
    4. Armand Mboutchouang K. & Cédric Foyet K. & Cédrick Kalemasi M., 2023. "Child fostering and health nutritional outcomes of under-five: Evidence from Cameroon," Working Papers 23/008, European Xtramile Centre of African Studies (EXCAS).
    5. Hyung Baek Lim & Chulwoo Kim, 2020. "The failure of a rural development project: South Korean official development assistance in the Democratic Republic of the Congo," Asian Journal of Agriculture and rural Development, Asian Economic and Social Society, vol. 10(1), pages 259-269, June.
    6. Janvier Mwisha-Kasiwa & Cédrick Kalemasi-Mosengo & Oasis Kodila-Tedika, 2023. "Understanding the link between gendered access to agricultural land and household nutrition outcomes in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)," Working Papers of The Association for Promoting Women in Research and Development in Africa (ASPROWORDA). 23/017, The Association for Promoting Women in Research and Development in Africa (ASPROWORDA).
    7. Janvier Mwisha-Kasiwa & Cédrick M. Kalemasi & Oasis Kodila-Tedika, 2024. "Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) Practices and Children’s Nutritional Status in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): Evidence from Demographic and Health Surveys," Working Papers of the African Governance and Development Institute. 24/023, African Governance and Development Institute..
    8. Armand Mboutchouang K. & Cédric Foyet K. & Cédrick Kalemasi M., 2023. "Child fostering and health nutritional outcomes of under-five: Evidence from Cameroon," Working Papers of The Association for Promoting Women in Research and Development in Africa (ASPROWORDA). 23/003, The Association for Promoting Women in Research and Development in Africa (ASPROWORDA).
    9. Armand Mboutchouang K. & Cédric Foyet K. & Cédrick Kalemasi M., 2023. "Child fostering and health nutritional outcomes of under-five: Evidence from Cameroon," Working Papers of the African Governance and Development Institute. 23/008, African Governance and Development Institute..
    10. Osabuohien, Evans S. & Efobi, Uchenna R. & Herrmann, Raoul T. & Gitau, Ciliaka M.W., 2019. "Female labor outcomes and large-scale agricultural land investments: Macro-micro evidencefrom Tanzania," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 716-728.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Child health; Economic well-being; Household; Africa; DR Congo;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C35 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Discrete Regression and Qualitative Choice Models; Discrete Regressors; Proportions
    • D13 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Household Production and Intrahouse Allocation
    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being
    • I32 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Measurement and Analysis of Poverty

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