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Parental Preferences for Nutrition of Boys and Girls: Evidence from Africa

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  • D. E. Sahn
  • D. C. Stifel

Abstract

This article models the determinants of pre-school age malnutrition in Africa using the Demographic Health Surveys. By examining the differences in the impact of mother's and father's education on the nutrition of boys and girls, we draw inferences from our reduced-form equations regarding the existence of non-unified preferences. In a bargaining framework, women with more schooling are able to earn more, which improves their fallback position. Thus, we test whether mother's schooling has a larger impact on daughter's than son's nutrition, and whether father's education favors son's nutrition. Using classical testing criteria, we generally find that preferences of fathers and mother differ in regard to the health of boys and girls.

Suggested Citation

  • D. E. Sahn & D. C. Stifel, 2002. "Parental Preferences for Nutrition of Boys and Girls: Evidence from Africa," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 39(1), pages 21-45.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:jdevst:v:39:y:2002:i:1:p:21-45
    DOI: 10.1080/00220380412331322651
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    Cited by:

    1. Emmanouil Taxiarchis Gazilas, 2024. "Factors Influencing Life Expectancy in Low-Income Countries: A Panel Data Analysis," Journal of Applied Economic Research, Graduate School of Economics and Management, Ural Federal University, vol. 23(3), pages 580-601.
    2. Rodríguez, Laura, 2016. "Intrahousehold Inequalities in Child Rights and Well-Being. A Barrier to Progress?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 111-134.
    3. Penders, Christopher L. & Staatz, John M., 2001. "The Impact Of Household Level Determinants Of Child Health And Nutrition: Cross-Country Evidence From West Africa," Staff Paper Series 11579, Michigan State University, Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics.
    4. Steckel, Richard H., 2009. "Heights and human welfare: Recent developments and new directions," Explorations in Economic History, Elsevier, vol. 46(1), pages 1-23, January.
    5. Jacob, Arun, 2016. "Gender Bias in Educational Attainment in India : The Role of Dowry Payments," MPRA Paper 76338, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Martin Gaechter & Peter Schwazer & Engelbert Theurl, 2012. "Stronger Sex but Earlier Death: A Multi-level Socioeconomic Analysis of Gender Differences in Mortality in Austria," DANUBE: Law and Economics Review, European Association Comenius - EACO, issue 1, pages 1-23, March.
    7. Zewdie, Tadiwos & Abebaw, Degnet, 2013. "Determinants of Child Malnutrition: Empirical Evidence from Kombolcha District of Eastern Hararghe Zone, Ethiopia," Quarterly Journal of International Agriculture, Humboldt-Universitaat zu Berlin, vol. 52(4), pages 1-16, November.
    8. Meijuan Wang & Denis Nadolnyak & Valentina Hartarska, 2021. "Gender Differences in Child Malnutrition in Ethiopia: Evidence from Three Decomposition Techniques," Research in Applied Economics, Macrothink Institute, vol. 13(3), pages 67-94, September.
    9. 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..
    10. David Sahn & Stephen Younger, 2005. "Improvements in children’s health: Does inequality matter?," The Journal of Economic Inequality, Springer;Society for the Study of Economic Inequality, vol. 3(2), pages 125-143, August.
    11. David E. Sahn & Stephen D. Younger, 2009. "Measuring intra‐household health inequality: explorations using the body mass index," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 18(S1), pages 13-36, April.
    12. Martin Gächter & Engelbert Theurl, 2010. "Socioeconomic Environment and Mortality: A two-level Decomposition by Sex and Cause of Death," Working Papers 2010-18, Faculty of Economics and Statistics, Universität Innsbruck.
    13. Borooah, Vani K., 2005. "The height-for-age of Indian children," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 3(1), pages 45-65, March.
    14. Marcel Fafchamps & Bereket Kebede & Agnes R. Quisumbing, 2009. "Intrahousehold Welfare in Rural Ethiopia," Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics, Department of Economics, University of Oxford, vol. 71(4), pages 567-599, August.
    15. David Mmopelwa, 2019. "Household size, birth order and child health in Botswana," Discussion Papers 2019-10, University of Nottingham, CREDIT.
    16. Chandna, Arjita & Bhagowalia, Priya, 2024. "Birth order and children’s health and learning outcomes in India," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 52(C).
    17. 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).
    18. David Stifel & Harold Alderman, 2006. "The "Glass of Milk" Subsidy Program and Malnutrition in Peru," The World Bank Economic Review, World Bank, vol. 20(3), pages 421-448.
    19. Wise, Victoria, 2004. "Nutritional Situation of Young Children in Rwanda: An Analysis of Anthropometric Data Collected by the Household Living Conditions Survey, 1999-2001," Food Security Collaborative Working Papers 55377, Michigan State University, Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics.
    20. Anuja Jayaraman & Jill L. Findeis, 2012. "Gender Relations and Effect of Credit Availability on Household Expenditure: Evidence from Rural Bangladesh," Poverty & Public Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 4(4), pages 205-222, December.
    21. Simantini Mukhopadhyay, 2016. "Dynamics of Child Undernutrition in India: An Analysis beyond the Headcount Rati," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 36(1), pages 155-164.
    22. Mansuri, Ghazala, 2006. "Migration,sex bias, and child growth in rural Pakistan," Policy Research Working Paper Series 3946, The World Bank.
    23. Rodríguez, Laura, 2016. "Intrahousehold Inequalities in Child Rights and Well-Being. A Barrier to Progress?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 111-134.
    24. Wise, Victoria, 2004. "Situation Nutritionnelles des jeunes enfants au Rwanda: Une analyse de données anthropométriques collectées par l'Enquête sur les Conditions de Vie des Ménages 1999-2001," Food Security Collaborative Working Papers 55379, Michigan State University, Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics.
    25. Magnus Hatlebakk, 2012. "Malnutrition in South-Asia. Poverty, diet or lack of female empowerment?," CMI Working Papers 4, CMI (Chr. Michelsen Institute), Bergen, Norway.

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