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The effect of neighbourhood mortality shocks on fertility preferences: a spatial econometric approach

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Abstract

According to the demographic transition theory, fertility rates fall in response to declines in child mortality rates. Although national statistics indicate that child mortality rates have been declining over time, Ghana’s fertility rates appear to have stalled. This paper hypothesises that women’s fertility behaviours may be more responsive to child mortality experiences at more localised levels. Using all rounds of the Ghana Demographic and Health Surveys (1988–2008) and employing a variety of spatial and empirical estimation techniques, results indicate that in addition to own-child mortality, neighbourhood child mortality shocks are also a determinant of women’s fertility in Ghana. Women in neighbourhoods with large child mortality shocks may desire more children as an “insurance” against future losses, as a result of their increased perceptions of own-child mortality risks.

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Notes

  1. No spatial data are available for 1988.

  2. Results are presented for the negative binomial regression model in Appendix B.

  3. Regression results using the negative binomial regression model presented in Appendix C.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Economics, University of Ghana, Legon, P.O. Box LG 57, Accra, Ghana

    Nkechi S. Owoo

  2. Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, P.O. Box LG 25, Accra, Ghana

    Samuel Agyei-Mensah

  3. Ghana Heath Service, Mamobi Polyclinic, Accra, Ghana

    Emily Onuoha

Authors
  1. Nkechi S. Owoo
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  2. Samuel Agyei-Mensah
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  3. Emily Onuoha
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nkechi S. Owoo.

Appendix

Appendix

See Fig. 4 and Tables 6 and 7.

Table 6 Negative binomial regression results: 1988–2008
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Table 7 Robustness checks II
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Owoo, N.S., Agyei-Mensah, S. & Onuoha, E. The effect of neighbourhood mortality shocks on fertility preferences: a spatial econometric approach. Eur J Health Econ 16, 629–645 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10198-014-0615-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10198-014-0615-3

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