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 changes would reduce social inequality, but the wealthy benefit more than the poor from provision of health services.