Historical Legacies, Social Capital, and Women’s Decision-Making Power: Religion and Child Nutrition in Mozambique

Abstract

In sub-Saharan settings, parental religion may have important implications for children's health and well-being. Using survey data from rural Mozambique, we examine the relationship between women's religion and the likelihood of their children being chronically malnourished (stunted). Multivariate analyses show that children of religiously affiliated women are significantly less likely to be stunted than children of non-affiliated women. We also find a strong advantage of mainline Protestants, especially compared to members of Pentecostal-type denominations, net of other factors. We relate this advantage to two historically rooted characteristics of mainline Protestantism: its connections to the public health sector and higher levels of women's autonomy that it fosters.

Religious social capital and minority health: A concept analysis

“…(2018, pp. 5‐9) denotes articles; (5) Agadjanian and Jansen (2018); (6) Coddou (2016); (7) Gomes et al. (2013); (8) Holt et al.…”

“…For religious social capital to develop, several antecedent characteristics (Table 2) must be in place. First, a defined religious social network provides a structure to work within and an opportunity for voluntary membership (Agadjanian & Jansen, 2018; Williams, 2008). Social networks lead to relationships within which information and resources are shared (Buys et al., 2011).…”

“…However, the study team found six related terms, (1) spiritual social capital (Duggan & Dijkers, 2001;Holt et al, 2012Holt et al, , 2015Scott et al, 2018), (2) religious involvement (Agadjanian & Jansen, 2018;Coddou, 2016;Gomes et al, 2013;Holt et al, 2015;Yates et al, 2018), (3) faithbased social capital (Hodge et al, 2011), (4) social support (Debnam et al, 2012;Irwin et al, 2008), (5) faith-based community support (Lee & An, 2013), and (6) religiosity (Eitle, 2011;Mason et al, 2012;Mpofu et al, 2011), have been reported in the literature (Table 1). Except for spiritual social capital and social support, all concepts have in com- The concept of social support is often used interchangeably with social capital although it is not a surrogate term.…”

“…Antecedents of religious social capital-Defined religious social network For religious social capital to develop, several antecedent characteristics (Table 2) must be in place. First, a defined religious social network provides a structure to work within and an opportunity for voluntary membership (Agadjanian & Jansen, 2018;Williams, 2008).…”

Ecosystem Determinants of Height and Weight Among Poverty Ridden Children in India

“…Extant research reveals the influence of caste, ethnic, certain social and religious background on the prevalence of malnutrition in children. These group-specific or religion factors generally relate to the discrimination that these communities face in accessing income earning assets, education and government schemes providing services like food and health (Agadjanian and Jansen, 2018;Panda et al, 2020). Thus, religion often influences them through the social and cultural institutions in which they participate (UNICEF, 2011).…”