title: Investigating the important correlates of maternal education and childhood malaria infections.
abstract: The relationship between maternal education and child health has intrigued researchers for decades. This study explored the interaction between maternal education and childhood malaria infection. Cross-sectional survey data from three African countries were used. Descriptive analysis and multivariate logistic regression models were completed in line with identified correlates. Marginal effects and Oaxaca decomposition analysis on maternal education and childhood malaria infection were also estimated. Children with mothers whose education level was beyond primary school were 4.7% less likely to be malaria-positive (P < 0.001). The Oaxaca decomposition analysis exhibited an 8% gap in childhood malaria infection for educated and uneducated mothers. Over 60% of the gap was explained by differences in household wealth (26%), household place of domicile (21%), malaria transmission intensities (14%), and media exposure (12%). All other correlates accounted for only 27%. The full adjusted model showed a robust and significant relationship between maternal education and childhood malaria infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Policy and Management, Rollins School of Public Health of the Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia; Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Disease and Malaria, Division of Global Immunization, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health of the Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia; Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology/Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington jnjau@cdc.gov.
authors.forename: Joseph D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Njau
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Policy and Management, Rollins School of Public Health of the Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia; Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Disease and Malaria, Division of Global Immunization, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health of the Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia; Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology/Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.
authors.forename: Rob
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stephenson
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Policy and Management, Rollins School of Public Health of the Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia; Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Disease and Malaria, Division of Global Immunization, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health of the Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia; Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology/Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.
authors.forename: Manoj P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Menon
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Policy and Management, Rollins School of Public Health of the Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia; Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Disease and Malaria, Division of Global Immunization, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health of the Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia; Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology/Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.
authors.forename: S Patrick
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Kachur
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Policy and Management, Rollins School of Public Health of the Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia; Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Disease and Malaria, Division of Global Immunization, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health of the Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia; Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology/Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.
authors.forename: Deborah A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: McFarland
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000810:Angola / Q000453:epidemiology; D002669:Child Welfare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008288:Malaria / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D060756:Social Networking; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology; D014454:Uganda / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult