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Spatial Modelling of the Relationship Between Socio-Economic Disadvantage and Child Health in Namibia

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Abstract

Socio-economic disadvantage (SED) is an established risk factor or effect modifier of child health status. Motivated by concerns of addressing health inequalities and social justice, this paper examined the place-specific association of SED with child health in Namibia. We explored this aspect by generating two local indicators of SED: material and earnings deprivation, and used a space-varying coefficients model, to estimate their effects on three child health outcomes (i.e., low birthweight, stunting and under-five mortality) in Namibia. Our findings, not only confirm that children from extremely disadvantaged households were more likely to be of low birthweight, stunted or die in the first 5 years of life, but also demonstrated the spatial varying association of SED with health. Results provide empirical evidence for designing interventions and policies that are targeted and focal.

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Acknowledgments

We acknowledge permission Granted by Macro International to use the 2006/2007 Namibia DHS data.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Statistics and Population Studies, University of Namibia, 340 Mandume Ndemufayo Avenue, Pionerspark, Private Bag 13301, Windhoek, Namibia

    Lawrence N. Kazembe & Ndeyapo M. Nickanor

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  1. Lawrence N. Kazembe
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  2. Ndeyapo M. Nickanor
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Correspondence to Lawrence N. Kazembe.

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Kazembe, L.N., Nickanor, N.M. Spatial Modelling of the Relationship Between Socio-Economic Disadvantage and Child Health in Namibia. Spat Demogr 5, 1–24 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40980-016-0022-8

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