TY - JOUR
T1 - The effect of neighbourhood mortality shocks on fertility preferences
T2 - a spatial econometric approach
AU - Owoo, Nkechi S.
AU - Agyei-Mensah, Samuel
AU - Onuoha, Emily
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2014, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.
PY - 2015/7/13
Y1 - 2015/7/13
N2 - According to the demographic transition theory, fertility rates fall in response to declines in child mortality rates. Although national statistics indicate that child mortality rates have been declining over time, Ghana’s fertility rates appear to have stalled. This paper hypothesises that women’s fertility behaviours may be more responsive to child mortality experiences at more localised levels. Using all rounds of the Ghana Demographic and Health Surveys (1988–2008) and employing a variety of spatial and empirical estimation techniques, results indicate that in addition to own-child mortality, neighbourhood child mortality shocks are also a determinant of women’s fertility in Ghana. Women in neighbourhoods with large child mortality shocks may desire more children as an “insurance” against future losses, as a result of their increased perceptions of own-child mortality risks.
AB - According to the demographic transition theory, fertility rates fall in response to declines in child mortality rates. Although national statistics indicate that child mortality rates have been declining over time, Ghana’s fertility rates appear to have stalled. This paper hypothesises that women’s fertility behaviours may be more responsive to child mortality experiences at more localised levels. Using all rounds of the Ghana Demographic and Health Surveys (1988–2008) and employing a variety of spatial and empirical estimation techniques, results indicate that in addition to own-child mortality, neighbourhood child mortality shocks are also a determinant of women’s fertility in Ghana. Women in neighbourhoods with large child mortality shocks may desire more children as an “insurance” against future losses, as a result of their increased perceptions of own-child mortality risks.
KW - Child mortality
KW - Demographic transition
KW - Fertility intentions
KW - Ghana
KW - Neighbourhood shocks
KW - Spatial econometrics
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84930866180&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10198-014-0615-3
DO - 10.1007/s10198-014-0615-3
M3 - Article
C2 - 24947402
AN - SCOPUS:84930866180
SN - 1618-7598
VL - 16
SP - 629
EP - 645
JO - European Journal of Health Economics
JF - European Journal of Health Economics
IS - 6
ER -