Socio-Economic Status and Child Mortality: An Illustration Using Housing and Household Characteristics from African Census Data

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Periodical article

Title:	Socio-Economic Status and Child Mortality: An Illustration Using Housing and Household Characteristics from African Census Data
Authors:	Bawah, Ayaga Zuberi, Tukufu
Year:	2004
Periodical:	African Population Studies
Volume:	19 Supplement B
Pages:	9-29
Language:	English
Geographic terms:	Botswana Lesotho Zambia Africa
Subjects:	child mortality standard of living poverty households Peoples of Africa (Ethnic Groups) Health and Nutrition Miscellaneous (i.e. Demography, Refugees, Sports)
External link:	http://www.bioline.org.br/pdf?ep04033
Abstract:	Housing characteristics and household possessions such as sources of water, type of toilet facilities; housing construction materials; the possession of radio, television and animals, often reflect the socioeconomic status of households, especially in developing countries where income data are lacking. It is possible to use these variables together or individually as a proxy for household wealth or socioeconomic status. This study treats the variables together as a proxy for economic status to create a composite poverty index, and uses this index in a multivariate model to examine its association with childhood mortality in Botswana, Lesotho and Zambia. It shows that the chances of childhood mortality decrease consistently with high levels of the socioeconomic status index. App. bibliogr., sum. [Journal abstract, adapted]