Father absence but not fosterage predicts food insecurity, relative poverty, and poor child health in northern Tanzania

Abstract

TitleFather absence but not fosterage predicts food insecurity, relative poverty, and poor child health in northern Tanzania AbstractObjectives: The importance of fathers in ensuring child health in rural developing populations is questioned by anthropologists and population health scientists. Existing literature focuses on paternal death and child mortality. A relative lack of studies consider alternative forms of father absence and/or more subtle health outcomes.Here we determine the frequency and form of father absence in northern Tanzania, and its relationship to household food security, wealth, and child anthropometric status.Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 3136 children under 5 years of age from 56 villages. Using multilevel regression we contrast children residing with both parents to those that (i) have experienced paternal death, (ii) reside with their mother but not their living father and (iii) are fostered apart from both living parents.Results: Of the total, 3.5% of children had experienced paternal death. Thirteen percent resided with their mother but away from their living father. Supporting data indicate such cases primarily reflect parental divorce/separation, extra-marital birth, or polygynous fathers residing with an alternative cowife. Paternal death and residing apart from one's living father was associated with lower food security and/or relative poverty and there is suggestive evidence that children in such circumstances achieve lower height-for-age. Six percent of children were fostered, usually with grandparents, and were comparable to children residing with both parents in terms of household food security, wealth, and anthropometric status. Conclusion:Our results highlight diversity in the form and consequences of father absence. We discuss limitations of the current study and wider literature on fatherhood and make suggestions for future research.

Earning their keep? Fostering, children's education, and work in north-western Tanzania

“…There are few differences between the characteristics of households with and without foster children (see also Lawson et al 2017). However, households fostering children are more likely to own land and have more older individuals (aged 60 and over) who may be less able to contribute to household work, which is consistent with a greater demand for children's work.…”

“…Parental death has historically been a relatively uncommon reason for children being fostered in sub-Saharan Africa (Gaydosh 2015), and in northern Tanzania specifically, accounts for a minority of cases where children live away from their parents (Lawson et al 2017). We anticipated that orphans represent a situation of 'crisis fostering' and would therefore be particularly disadvantaged among fostered children.…”

“…In societies with strong traditions of fostering, fostering can begin at young ages, and frequently occurs even when both parents are alive. Lawson et al (2017), for example, report that in northern Tanzania, 6% of children under five years of age resided apart from both living parents, most often with grandparents. Another study at a site in rural eastern Tanzania estimates that 25% of children experienced maternal absence, and 40% paternal absence, by age 10 (Gaydosh 2015).…”

“…Studies in several countries have found that children fostered by grandparents and other close relatives are not disadvantaged, but that fosterage by more distant kin or nonrelatives is associated with a lower probability of school enrolment (Chuong and Operario 2012;Fleisch, Shindler, and Perry 2012;Ainsworth, Beegle, and Koda 2002;Parker and Short 2009;Shapiro and Tambashe 2001;Madhavan et al 2017;Burke and Beegle 2004). Multiple studies in northern Tanzania have found that fostered children are not disadvantaged in terms of mortality, anthropometric scores, or educational investment compared to biological children (Urassa et al 1997;Burke and Beegle 2004;Lawson et al 2017). In Mozambique, fostered children were not less likely to attend school than biological children within the same household (Lopus 2017).…”

Beyond Orphanhood: Parental Nonresidence and Child Well‐being in Tanzania

“…Father coresidence is important only insofar as it affects the availability of monetary resources, which he does not necessarily need to be present in order to provide (Case, Paxson, & Ableidinger, ; Fapohunda & Todaro, ; Townsend, Madhavan, Tollman, Garenne, & Kahn, ). There is a large body of evidence documenting the increased risk of poverty associated with father absence and female‐headed households (Lawson et al, ; Richter, ).…”