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Chronic child poverty and health outcomes in South Africa using a multidimensional poverty measure

Author

Listed:
  • Marisa von Fintel

    (Department of Economics, Research on Socio-Economic Policy (ReSEP), Stellenbosch University)

  • Ronelle Burger

    (Department of Economics, Research on Socio-Economic Policy (ReSEP), Stellenbosch University)

Abstract

In this paper, we examine the differences in health outcomes between children residing in poor and non-poor households. In order to identify household poverty, we make use of the framework of multidimensional poverty as introduced by Alkire and Foster (2011). In our sample, we follow all children (defined as individuals aged 18 years or younger) over the period 2012- 2017, using the last three waves of the National Income Dynamics Study (NIDS). We find great disparities in health and well-being among children depending on the classification of the household as being poor or non-poor. In addition, children residing in households which are chronically poor (i.e. are observed to remain in poverty over time) have worse health outcomes than children residing in households which move in and out of poverty, pointing towards the negative effects of poverty traps. Finally, we rely on the previous work conducted by Wagstaff et al (2004) to explore some of the causes of child health inequalities in South Africa, including maternal education, water and sanitation and social norms (which includes the prevalence of female-headed households and the decision-making power of women in the household).

Suggested Citation

  • Marisa von Fintel & Ronelle Burger, 2020. "Chronic child poverty and health outcomes in South Africa using a multidimensional poverty measure," Working Papers 19/2020, Stellenbosch University, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:sza:wpaper:wpapers354
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    Cited by:

    1. is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Haiping Xu & Qunyong Jiang & Chuqiao Zhang & Shahzad Ahmad, 2023. "Left-behind experience and children’s multidimensional poverty: Evidence from rural China," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 16(1), pages 199-225, February.
    3. Jingru Chen & Hengyuan Zeng & Qiang Gao, 2023. "Using the Sustainable Development Capacity of Key Counties to Guide Rural Revitalization in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-26, February.
    4. Bhana, Deevia & Janak, Raksha & Pillay, Daisy & Ramrathan, Labby, 2021. "Masculinity and violence: Gender, poverty and culture in a rural primary school in South Africa," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    5. Grace Leach & Dieter von Fintel, 2025. "Supporting Early Childhood Development through Multi-dimensional Service Delivery in South Africa," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 18(3), pages 1101-1159, June.

    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • I14 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Inequality
    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being
    • I32 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Measurement and Analysis of Poverty

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