Orphan hood and health outcomes in Africa

Kathleen Beegle, World Bank Group
Phare Mujinja, Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences
Joachim De Weerdt, Economic Development Initiatives (EDI)

It is estimated that about one in eight children under the age of 15 in Africa has lost one or both parents, about a third of them orphaned by AIDS. Despite the widespread concern regarding this trend, there is scant quantitative evidence of the long-run impact of adult mortality on the human capital outcomes of children. This study uses a unique longitudinal household survey to evaluate the impact of adult mortality in households on the health outcomes of children. The study further exploits the richness of the survey data by using anthropometric measures as well as self-reported morbidities and activities of daily living to assess the long-run impact.