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.


CONCLUSIONS
Some health behavior and policy changes would reduce social inequality, but the wealthy benefit more than the poor from provision of health services.
Department of Sociology, Brigham Young University, 2033 JFSB, Provo, UT, 84602, USA. tim_heaton@byu.edu.
Tim B
TB
Heaton
Department of Health Science, Brigham Young University, Provo, USA.
Benjamin
B
Crookston
Department of Sociology, Brigham Young University, 2033 JFSB, Provo, UT, 84602, USA.
Hayley
H
Pierce
North-west University, Mafikeng, South Africa.
Acheampong Yaw
AY
Amoateng
D000293:Adolescent; D000349:Africa; D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D054625:Healthcare Disparities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012923:Social Class
Africa; Children’s health; Socioeconomic inequality