Title: Relative spousal status and child health in Sub-Saharan Africa: the case of Ghana.

POPLINE Document Number: 101437

Author(s):

Dodoo FN

Source citation:

SOCIOLOGICAL QUARTERLY, 1994;35(3):507-19.

Abstract:

This study expands the literature on the impact of gender relations on fertility decision making, and more specifically on child health and mortality. Decision making in sub-Saharan African households is vested primarily in males. Power in relations is traditionally derived in African societies from sources such as age, income, family, and kin group status. Modernization effects have increased women's level of education and occupation. This study examined the impact of women's power on the health status of children as measured by child inoculations: Caldwell's hypothesis about gender relations. Data were obtained from the 1988 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey on a representative sample of 4488 females aged 15-49 years and a subsample of 943 coresident husbands. 726 couples had a child born within the 5 years preceding the study. Controls included rural-urban location, mother's knowledge about access to inoculation centers, the presence of other children in the household, and child's age and sex. Preliminary analysis revealed that health card status was unrelated to education. 56% of women in higher level occupations had health cards for their children, while 48% of men in higher level occupations had health cards for their children. In the multivariate analysis, the findings were that those in professional occupations, regardless of whether the wife or husband, were more likely to have inoculated children. In the full model with controls and joint status of socioeconomic factors, the positive relationship between women's status and child health prevention was not supported. Female schooling becomes significant, and male advantage in education was associated with children's higher odds of having health care. An unusual finding was that male children had lower odds of being inoculated. Female familiarity with the inoculating health center, age of the child, and urban residence were statistically significant. The caveat is that the measure of women's power might reflect only potential rather than real power differences. The suggestion is that both spouses have an interest in the welfare of children. Further clarification of the role of women in decision making on health issues is needed, as well as analysis that considers the context of family relations, time, and place. Continued efforts should be made to improve access to health services for rural, poor, and uneducated people.

Keywords:

Ghana
Case Studies
Gender Relations
Decision Making
Child Health
Female Role
Women's Status
Power
Demographic and Health Surveys
Logistic Model
Developing Countries
Africa, Western
Africa, Sub Saharan
Africa
Studies
Research Methodology
Gender Issues
Behavior
Health
Social Behavior
Socioeconomic Factors
Economic Factors
Political Factors
Demographic Surveys
Population Dynamics
Demographic Factors
Population
Mathematical Model
Models, Theoretical