Jean Christophe Fotso
Child health inequities in developing countries: differences across urban and rural areas
African Population and Health Research Center
document compare magnitude inequities child malnutrition across urban rural areas investigate extent withinurban disparities child malnutrition accounted characteristics communities households individualsthe recent data sets available demographic health surveys dhs 15 countries subsaharan africa ssa used selection criteria set ensure number countries geographical spread across westerncentral easternsouthern africa socioeconomic diversities constitute good yardstick region allow us draw generalizations household wealth index constructed country area urban rural odds ratio uppermost lowermost category derived multilevel logistic models used measure socioeconomic inequalities control variables include mothers fathers education community socioeconomic status ses designed represent broad socioeconomic ecology neighborhoods families live relevant mother childlevel covariatesacross countries ssa though socioeconomic inequalities stunting exist urban rural areas significantly larger urban areas intraurban differences child malnutrition larger overall urbanrural differentials child malnutrition seem visible relationships withinurban inequities child health one hand urban population growth urban malnutrition overall ruralurban differentials malnutrition finally maternal fathers education community ses measurable covariates mother child levels explain slight part withinurban differences child malnutritionthe urban advantage health masks enormous disparities poor nonpoor urban areas ssa specific policies geared preferentially improving health nutrition urban poor implemented targeting best attainable average level health reducing gaps population groups also target successfully monitor gaps urban poor nonpoor existing data collection programs dhs nationally representative surveys redesigned capture changing patterns spatial distribution population