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Mortality convergence of twins and singletons in sub-Saharan Africa

Author

Listed:
  • Roland Pongou

    (University of Ottawa)

  • David Shapiro

    (Pennsylvania State University)

  • Michel Tenikue

    (Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LISER))

Abstract

Background: While there is a substantial amount of literature documenting that twins have higher mortality than singletons, that literature does not address the questions of whether this disadvantage of twins eventually disappears and if so, at what age. Objective: This paper seeks to determine if there is convergence of mortality of twins and singletons and if so, to determine the age at which convergence takes place. We also examine how twin–singleton mortality differences have changed across successive cohorts. Methods: We use data on more than 3 million live births from 99 Demographic and Health Surveys carried out between 1990 and 2013 in 34 different countries in sub-Saharan Africa to examine age-specific mortality of twins and singletons, by month for the first year of life and by year up to age 25. Results: We find that mortality of twins is considerably higher than that of singletons in the first year of life, and especially in the first month. As children age, a narrowing of the mortality difference occurs, with convergence taking place by age 6. Over time, mortality of both twins and singletons has declined, but the disadvantage of twins has persisted. Conclusions: The mortality disadvantage of twins compared to singletons eventually disappears as they age. Contribution: This study documents that in sub-Saharan Africa, there is convergence of mortality of twins and singletons and that this convergence takes place by the age of 6.

Suggested Citation

  • Roland Pongou & David Shapiro & Michel Tenikue, 2019. "Mortality convergence of twins and singletons in sub-Saharan Africa," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 41(36), pages 1047-1058.
  • Handle: RePEc:dem:demres:v:41:y:2019:i:36
    DOI: 10.4054/DemRes.2019.41.36
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Douglas Almond & Kenneth Y. Chay & David S. Lee, 2005. "The Costs of Low Birth Weight," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 120(3), pages 1031-1083.
    2. Sandra E. Black & Paul J. Devereux & Kjell G. Salvanes, 2007. "From the Cradle to the Labor Market? The Effect of Birth Weight on Adult Outcomes," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 122(1), pages 409-439.
    3. Almond, Douglas & Currie, Janet, 2011. "Human Capital Development before Age Five," Handbook of Labor Economics, in: O. Ashenfelter & D. Card (ed.), Handbook of Labor Economics, edition 1, volume 4, chapter 15, pages 1315-1486, Elsevier.
    4. Roland Pongou, 2013. "Why Is Infant Mortality Higher in Boys Than in Girls? A New Hypothesis Based on Preconception Environment and Evidence From a Large Sample of Twins," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 50(2), pages 421-444, April.
    5. repec:ucn:wpaper:10197/317 is not listed on IDEAS
    6. Gilles Pison & Christiaan Monden & Jeroen Smits, 2015. "Twinning Rates in Developed Countries: Trends and Explanations," Population and Development Review, The Population Council, Inc., vol. 41(4), pages 629-649, December.
    7. Jeroen Smits & Christiaan Monden, 2011. "Twinning across the Developing World," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 6(9), pages 1-5, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Fenske, James & Wang, Shizhuo, 2023. "Tradition and mortality: Evidence from twin infanticide in Africa," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
    2. Wang, Linfeng & Shi, Tie & Chen, Hanyi, 2023. "Air pollution and infant mortality: Evidence from China," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 49(C).
    3. Roland Pongou, 2020. "Is Excess (Fe)Male Mortality Caused by the Prenatal Environment, Child Biology, or Parental Discrimination? New Evidence from Male-Female Twins," Working Papers 2008E Classification-I15,, University of Ottawa, Department of Economics.
    4. Marie Christelle Mabeu & Roland Pongou, 2021. "The Interplay Between Colonial History and Postcolonial Institutions: Evidence from Cameroon," Working Papers 2111E Classification-D02,, University of Ottawa, Department of Economics.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    mortality; twin studies; convergence; sub-Saharan Africa;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

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

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