Childhood Mortality, Childhood Morbidity, and Subsequent Fertility Decisions

Marwân-al-Qays Bousmah ()

JODE - Journal of Demographic Economics, 2017, vol. 83, issue 2, 211-244

Abstract: The effects of childhood mortality and morbidity on the fertility decision-making process are analyzed using longitudinal micro data from a Senegalese rural community, for the period 1984–2011. I attempt to identify the effect of individual child mortality, and also that of community child mortality and morbidity, on subsequent fertility choices. The results provide consistent support for both the child-replacement hypothesis and the precautionary demand for children. I find that community child mortality and morbidity attributable to malaria, which capture changes in the epidemiological context, exert a joint influence on fertility behaviors. Community-level malaria incidence among children has a positive effect on subsequent fertility choices, and this positive effect is stronger the more the disease is fatal to children who are infected. This study highlights the role of morbidity, acting through the relative risk of dying from the disease, on the slow fertility transition in sub-Saharan Africa.

Keywords: Fertility; Child mortality; Child morbidity; Malaria; Sub-Saharan Africa; Replacement and insurance effects (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C23 I15 J13 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017-06-01
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https://doi.org/10.1017/dem.2017.7 (application/pdf)

Related works:
Journal Article: CHILDHOOD MORTALITY, CHILDHOOD MORBIDITY, AND SUBSEQUENT FERTILITY DECISIONS (2017)
Working Paper: Childhood Mortality, Childhood Morbidity, and Subsequent Fertility Decisions (2017)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ctl:louvde:v:83:y:2017:i:2:p:211-244

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