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The dynamic role of household structure on under-5 mortality in southern and eastern sub-Saharan Africa

Author

Listed:
  • Ashira Menashe-Oren

    (Université catholique de Louvain)

  • Philippe Bocquier

    (Université catholique de Louvain)

  • Carren Ginsburg

    (University of the Witwatersrand)

  • Yacouba Compaoré

    (Institut Supérieur des Sciences de la Population (ISSP))

  • Mark Collinson

    (University of the Witwatersrand)

Abstract

Background: Children are born and grow up in households, where they receive essential care, including time, socio-psychological support, and economic resources. Children’s immediate environment, captured by household structure, changes over time. Objective: We evaluate the role of dynamic household structure in the risk of child death in southern and eastern Africa. Methods: We use longitudinal data from 15 Health and Demographic Surveillance Systems between 1990 and 2016, covering almost 282,000 under-5 year olds. We analyse under-5 mortality using semi-parametric Cox models accounting for time-varying household structure (household size and household typology) and controlling for maternal characteristics. Results: We find that children in smaller households have a higher risk of death than those in large households. In particular, children in households where they are the sole child with two adults of opposite sexes have the lowest chances of survival, reflecting a first-child effect. By contrast, nuclear-type households with more than one child are the most protective, while children in extended households are more vulnerable. Contribution: Our findings suggest that the (in)stability of households is important in evaluating child survival, and that it is imperative to consider households as changing entities.

Suggested Citation

  • Ashira Menashe-Oren & Philippe Bocquier & Carren Ginsburg & Yacouba Compaoré & Mark Collinson, 2023. "The dynamic role of household structure on under-5 mortality in southern and eastern sub-Saharan Africa," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 49(11), pages 249-294.
    • Handle: RePEc:dem:demres:v:49:y:2023:i:11
    DOI: 10.4054/DemRes.2023.49.11
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    household structure; child mortality; sub-Saharan Africa; Health and Demographic Surveillance System;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

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

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