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Measuring extended families over time in informal settlements in Nairobi, Kenya: Retention and data consistency in a two-round survey

Author

Listed:
  • Sangeetha Madhavan

    (University of Maryland)

  • Donatien Beguy

    (United Nations Human Settlements (UN Habitat))

  • Shelley Clark

    (McGill University)

Abstract

Background: Researchers have increasingly turned to longitudinal data to understand how the family environment of children changes over time and how this change affects their well-being. While the value of such efforts is clear, the inherent challenges of collecting robust data over time may limit or bias our understanding of family complexity. Objective: Drawing on data from an exploratory study on kinship structure and support for low income single mothers and their young children in Nairobi, Kenya, this paper aims to (1) assess the strengths and weaknesses of our approach in reflecting the complexities of kinship dynamics and (2) analyze how methodological issues such as selection and reporting inconsistency can influence our understanding of the role of kin in children’s lives. Methods: The analysis used data from two waves of the Kinship Support Tree (KST) project. The starting sample consisted of 462 single mothers with at least one child under the age of 7, with data collected on approximately 5,000 resident and nonresident kin. Descriptive statistics and conventional tests of significance were used to analyze selection factors and inconsistencies in reporting across waves. Results: The study yielded a 91% retention rate after six months and the analysis provides some assurance that selectivity from attrition and reporting inconsistency are not entirely driven by shifts in support provision by kin. However, the selectivity of the sample underscores caution in generalizing the results. Conclusions: While the challenges of conducting follow-up surveys such as the KST are serious, these findings suggest that it is possible to collect consistent data on kinship structure and support from the perspective of children in a mobile population. Tracking kinship structure over time using the KST is not only feasible but more importantly is unlikely to lead to incomplete or biased understanding of kinship. Contribution: After further testing with a wider range of women, we hope to disseminate our results for use in a wide range of contexts both in and out of Africa. We believe this data is vital to designing appropriate interventions to improve the well-being of children growing up in these communities.

Suggested Citation

  • Sangeetha Madhavan & Donatien Beguy & Shelley Clark, 2018. "Measuring extended families over time in informal settlements in Nairobi, Kenya: Retention and data consistency in a two-round survey," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 38(44), pages 1339-1358.
    • Handle: RePEc:dem:demres:v:38:y:2018:i:44
    DOI: 10.4054/DemRes.2018.38.44
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    Cited by:

    1. Olivia Samuel & Véronique Hertrich, 2019. "Introduction to the Special Collection on ‘Children and family dynamics in sub-Saharan Africa’," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 41(44), pages 1269-1276.
    2. Tomas Kačerauskas, 2018. "Urban (Un)Sustainability: Cases of Vilnius’s Informal and Illegal Settings," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-12, December.
    3. Cassandra Cotton & Shelley Clark & Sangeetha Madhavan, 2022. "“One hand does not bring up a child:” Child fostering among single mothers in Nairobi slums," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 46(30), pages 865-904.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Kenya; kinship; children's kinship networks; longitudinal analysis;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J1 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics
    • Z0 - Other Special Topics - - General

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