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Polygynous Family Structure and Child Undernutrition in Nigeria

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  • Mulubrhan Amare
  • Channing Arndt
  • Kristi Mahrt
  • George Mavrotas

Abstract

Interest is growing in the research literature in exploring how child nutrition is affected by sociocultural practices, such as polygyny. However, evaluation of the effect of polygyny on child nutrition is hindered by the complexity of the relationship. This paper investigates the effect of polygyny on anthropometric outcomes while recognising that unobservable household characteristics may simultaneously influence both the decision to form a polygynous union and the ability of the household to adequately nourish children. We apply an instrumental variable approach based on the occurrence of same-sex siblings in a woman’s first two births to generate exogenous variation in polygyny. Using data from the 2008 and 2013 Nigeria Demographic and Health Surveys, we find a detrimental effect of polygyny on child undernutrition. Our results show that the effect of polygyny is substantially reduced when we control for household characteristics, suggesting that part of the link between polygyny and child undernutrition is mediated through these channels. Nevertheless, the estimated coefficients of polygyny remain sizeable and strongly statistically significant even after controlling for these characteristics. Polygynous families may have different behavioural childcare practices, and/or the reduced bargaining power of women associated with polygynous families could be associated with higher rates of child undernutrition.

Suggested Citation

  • Mulubrhan Amare & Channing Arndt & Kristi Mahrt & George Mavrotas, 2021. "Polygynous Family Structure and Child Undernutrition in Nigeria," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 57(10), pages 1640-1661, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:jdevst:v:57:y:2021:i:10:p:1640-1661
    DOI: 10.1080/00220388.2021.1898591
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    Cited by:

    1. Bedru B. Balana & Adebayo Ogunniyi & Motunrayo Oyeyemi & Adetunji Fasoranti & Hyacinth Edeh & Kwaw Andam, 2023. "COVID-19, food insecurity and dietary diversity of households: Survey evidence from Nigeria," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 15(1), pages 219-241, February.
    2. Edeh, Hyacinth O. & Mavrotas, George & Balana, Bedru B., 2022. "Land tenure security and preferences to dispute resolution pathways among landholders in Nigeria," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    3. D’Exelle, Ben & Lépine, Aurélia & Bakyono, Richard & Tapsoba, Ludovic D.G., 2023. "Fertility and polygyny: Experimental evidence from Burkina Faso," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 164(C).
    4. Danny Cassimon & Olusegun Fadare & George Mavrotas, 2023. "The Impact of Food Aid and Governance on Food and Nutrition Security in Sub-Saharan Africa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-19, January.
    5. Ifeoluwapo Oluwaseun Amao & Adebayo Isaiah Ogunniyi & George Mavrotas & Abiodun Olusola Omotayo, 2023. "Factors Affecting Food Security among Households in Nigeria: The Role of Crop Diversity," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-21, May.

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