| A spatial analysis of childhood mortality in West Africa |
| Authors: |
Deborah Balk, Thomas Pullum, Adam Storeygard, Fern Greenwell, and Melissa Neuman |
| Source: |
Population, Space and Place, 10(3): 175-216; DOI: 10.1002/psp.328 |
| Topic(s): |
Child health
Childhood mortality
Climate
GIS/GPS
Spatial analysis
|
| Country: |
Africa
Multiple African Countries
|
| Published: |
MAY 2004 |
| Abstract: |
It is suggested that environmental or
geographical factors (e.g. population density,
climate and disease environment) play an
important role in determining infant and child
survival above and beyond that played by
individual and household level factors. Only
recently, however, have relevant spatial data
become available and have demographic
survey data systematically recorded
geographical location of surveyed households,
or has the technology to integrate these data
become accessible. This study estimates the
risk of infant and child death in ten West
African countries attributable to individual,
household and spatially explicit geographical
factors; 120,000 births occurring in the 10 years
prior to the 1997–2001 Demographic and
Health Survey dates are evaluated. Results
from a generalised linear model show that
spatial variables explain away a good deal of
the country-specific variation in mortality, and
that they are associated with (and may be
mediated by) the household characteristics.
Implications for research and policy are
addressed. |
| Web: |
https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/e5f7/6dc02a66009d5ccd557fa1f278bc8886e9b0.pdf |
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