| Contributing determinants of overall and wealth-related inequality in under-5 mortality in 13 African countries |
| Authors: |
Carine Van Malderen, Herman Van Oyen, and Niko Speybroeck |
| Source: |
Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 67:667-676 doi:10.1136/jech-2012-202195 |
| Topic(s): |
Child health
Childhood mortality
Children under five
Inequality
|
| Country: |
Africa
Multiple African Countries
|
| Published: |
MAY 2013 |
| Abstract: |
Objective To investigate and compare the main
determinants of overall inequality and wealth-related
inequality in under-5 mortality in 13 African countries.
Methods Data from Demographic and Health Surveys
conducted in 2007–2010 in African countries were
used. The study assessed the contribution of
determinants to (1) overall inequality in under-5
mortality measured by the Gini index and (2) wealthrelated
inequality in under-5 mortality measured by the
concentration index. Techniques used were multivariate
logistic regression and decomposition of Gini and
concentration indexes.
Results Birth order and interval and region contributed
the most to overall inequality in under-5 mortality in a
majority of countries. A significant wealth-related
inequality was observed in five countries: DRCongo,
Egypt, Madagascar, Nigeria and Sao Tome & Principe.
Overall, household wealth, father’s occupation and
mother’s education contributed the most to this
inequality, though the ranking of the most important
determinants differed across countries.
Conclusions Assessing the contribution of
determinants to overall inequality and to wealth-related
inequality in under-5 mortality help in prioritising
interventions aiming at improving child survival and
equity. |
| Web: |
http://jech.bmj.com/content/67/8/667.full |