Health effects of single motherhood on children in sub-Saharan Africa: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

BackgroundAlthough progress has been made toward reducing child morbidity and mortality globally, a large proportion of children in sub-Saharan Africa still die before age five and many suffer chronic malnutrition. This study investigated the influence of single motherhood on stunting and under-5 mortality in Cameroon, Nigeria and Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Particular attention was paid to the influence of mother’s economic resources, parental care and health behaviour on the difference in children’s health in single and two-parent families.MethodsData were obtained from most recent Demographic and Health Surveys in Cameroon (2011), Nigeria (2008) and DRC (2007). The sample included women aged 15–49 years old and their under-5 children 11,748 in Cameroon, 28,100 in Nigeria, and 8,999 in DRC. Logistic regression and Cox proportional hazard analysis were used to estimate stunting and under-5 mortality, respectively.ResultsThe result showed that compared with children whose mothers were in union, children of single mothers who were not widows were more likely to be stunted (OR 1.79 p < 0.01 in Cameroon and 1.69 p < .01 in DRC). Economic resources and parental care significantly influenced the higher odds of stunting in single mother households in Cameroon and DRC. Relative to children of mothers in union, the risk of under-5 mortality in single mother families was higher in the three countries (HR 1.40 p < .05 in Cameroon, 1.27 p < 0.10 in DRC, 1.55 p < .01 in Nigeria). Economic resources, parental care and health behaviour accounted for the difference in Nigeria and Cameroon; in DRC, only economic resources had marginal influence.ConclusionsSingle motherhood is a risk factor for children’s nutritional status and chances of survival before age 5 years in sub-Saharan Africa. To achieve improved reduction in children’s exposure to stunting and under-5 mortality, there is the need for public health interventions targeted at single mother households in sub-Saharan Africa.

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

“…There is little prior research in this context to draw from to gain insight into this finding, particularly regarding school entry. Nevertheless, the results here confirm existing evidence that unmarried mothers have children with worse health outcomes (Clark & Hamplová, ; Gage, ; LeVine & LeVine, ; Ntoimo & Odimegwu, ). Unmarried mothers are more educated on average (DeRose et al, ), which may make them place more value on education for their children.…”

Destitution, treatment adherence and survival of children with Burkitt lymphoma in a twinning programme in Northwest Cameroon

“…A lower survival rate was found among children of single mothers, possibly related to lower community support levels available to single mothers. Ntoimo and Odimegwu reported higher malnutrition and under‐five mortality rates in single‐mother households in Cameroon and suggested that the amount and quality of support that single mothers received from family members depended on cultural perceptions of single parenthood.…”

Relatives in Residence: Relatedness of Household Members Drives Schooling Differentials in Mozambique

“…A nonresident father may invest little in his children because he feels reduced altruism toward them (a potential consequence of reduced interactions), he does not expect them to support him in his old age, or he has developed a close relationship with the children of a new partner (Cox, ). These drivers explain the frequently observed association between paternal absence from the household and negative outcomes for children in both Western (Anderson, Kaplan, & Lancaster, ; Case, Lin, & McLanahan, ; Emmott & Mace, ) and African (Anderson, Kaplan, Lam, & Lancaster, ; Clark & Hamplová, ; Ntoimo & Odimegwu, ; Thiombiano, LeGrand, & Kobiané, ) contexts.…”