Social inequality and children’s health in Africa: a cross sectional study

BACKGROUND: This study examines socioeconomic inequality in children’s health and factors that moderate this inequality. Socioeconomic measures include household wealth, maternal education and urban/rural area of residence. Moderating factors include reproductive behavior, access to health care, time, economic development, health expenditures and foreign aid. METHODS: Data are taken from Demographic and Health Surveys conducted between 2003 and 2012 in 26 African countries. RESULTS: Birth spacing, skilled birth attendants, economic development and greater per capita health expenditures benefit the children of disadvantaged mothers, but the wealthy benefit more from the services of a skilled birth attendant and from higher per capita expenditure on health. CONCLUSION: Some health behavior and policy changeswould reduce social inequality, but the wealthy benefit more than the poor from provision of health services.