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The Impact Of Household-Level Determinants Of Child Health And Nutrition: Cross-Country Evidence From West Africa

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  • Penders, Christopher L.
  • Staatz, John M.

Abstract

Poor child health and nutrition persist throughout West Africa. This research analyzes the impact of key economic variables, including income, education and background characteristics, on child health and nutrition across nine different countries. The results are interpreted in the context of differing levels of economic development among these nations. The findings do not show wealth and parental education to be robust across the sample, but maternal background characteristics have a positive, statistically significant and highly consistent effect across all the countries. The importance of mothers' height does not simply represent a genetic influence, but can be interpreted to signify that women with a healthier upbringing, and hence taller, have healthier children, ceteris parabus. This finding is consistent with long run observations that increases in health (and height) coincide with economic development.

Suggested Citation

  • Penders, Christopher L. & Staatz, John M., 2001. "The Impact Of Household-Level Determinants Of Child Health And Nutrition: Cross-Country Evidence From West Africa," 2001 Annual meeting, August 5-8, Chicago, IL 20586, American Agricultural Economics Association (New Name 2008: Agricultural and Applied Economics Association).
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:aaea01:20586
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.20586
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    Cited by:

    1. Amy Ickowitz, 2012. "Wealthiest Is Not Always Healthiest: What Explains Differences in Child Mortality in West Africa?," Journal of African Economies, Centre for the Study of African Economies, vol. 21(2), pages 192-227, March.
    2. Mburu, John G. & Okello, Julius Juma, 2008. "The Prevalence of Under-Nourished Child Obese Mother Phenomenon in Rural Areas: Evidence from Central Province of Kenya," 2007 Second International Conference, August 20-22, 2007, Accra, Ghana 52160, African Association of Agricultural Economists (AAAE).

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