title: The effect of neighbourhood mortality shocks on fertility preferences: a spatial econometric approach.
abstract: According to the demographic transition theory, fertility rates fall in response to declines in child mortality rates. Although national statistics indicate that child mortality rates have been declining over time, Ghana's fertility rates appear to have stalled. This paper hypothesises that women's fertility behaviours may be more responsive to child mortality experiences at more localised levels. Using all rounds of the Ghana Demographic and Health Surveys (1988-2008) and employing a variety of spatial and empirical estimation techniques, results indicate that in addition to own-child mortality, neighbourhood child mortality shocks are also a determinant of women's fertility in Ghana. Women in neighbourhoods with large child mortality shocks may desire more children as an "insurance" against future losses, as a result of their increased perceptions of own-child mortality risks.
authors.affiliation: Department of Economics, University of Ghana, Legon, P.O. Box LG 57, Accra, Ghana, nowoo@ug.edu.gh.
authors.forename: Nkechi S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Owoo
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Agyei-Mensah
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Onuoha
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D046688:Child Mortality; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003906:Developing Countries; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D005869:Ghana / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D017059:Models, Econometric; D011157:Population Dynamics; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors