Does biological relatedness affect child survival?

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Does biological relatedness affect child survival?

Author Info

David Bishai (Johns Hopkins University)
Heena Brahmbhatt (Johns Hopkins University)
Ron Gray (Johns Hopkins University)
Godfrey Kigozi (Makerere University)
David Serwadda (Makerere University)
Nelson Sewankambo (Makerere University)
El Daw Suliman (Johns Hopkins University)
Fred Wabwire-Mangen (Makerere University)
Maria Wawer (Johns Hopkins University)

Additional information is available for the following registered author(s):

David M. Bishai

Abstract

Objective: We studied child survival in Rakai, Uganda where many children are fostered out or orphaned. Methods: Biological relatedness is measured as the average of the Wright’s coefficients between each household member and the child. Instrumental variables for fostering include proportion of adult males in household, age and gender of household head. Control variables include SES, religion, polygyny, household size, child age, child birth size, and child HIV status. Results: Presence of both parents in the household increased the odds of survival by 28%. After controlling for the endogeneity of child placement decisions in a multivariate model we found that lower biological relatedness of a child was associated with statistically significant reductions in child survival. The effects of biological relatedness on child survival tend to be stronger for both HIV- and HIV+ children of HIV+ mothers. Conclusions: Reductions in the numbers of close relatives caring for children of HIV+ mothers reduce child survival.

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Publisher Info
Article provided by Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany in its journal Demographic Research.

Volume (Year): 8 (2003)
Issue (Month): 9 (May)
Pages: 261-278
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Handle: RePEc:dem:demres:v:8:y:2003:i:9

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Find related papers by JEL classification:
J1 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics
Z0 - Other Special Topics - - General

References listed on IDEAS
Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.:

John Shea, 1996. "Instrument Relevance in Multivariate Linear Models: A Simple Measure," NBER Technical Working Papers 0193, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
Ainsworth, Martha & Filmer, Deon, 2002. "Poverty, AIDS, and children's schooling - a targeting dilemma," Policy Research Working Paper Series 2885, The World Bank. [Downloadable!]
Filmer, Deon & Pritchett, Lant, 1998. "Estimating wealth effects without expenditure data - or tears : with an application to educational enrollments in states of India," Policy Research Working Paper Series 1994, The World Bank. [Downloadable!]
Anne Case & Christina Paxson & Joseph Ableidinger, 2002. "Orphans in Africa," NBER Working Papers 9213, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc. [Downloadable!] (restricted)

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(explanations, Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.)

Asiamah, Selloane & Kraybill, David & Thompson, Stanley, 2005. "Does Orphan Status Affect Primary School Attendance? An Analysis of Household Survey Data from Uganda," 2005 Annual meeting, July 24-27, Providence, RI 19489, American Agricultural Economics Association (New Name 2008: Agricultural and Applied Economics Association). [Downloadable!]

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