Economic Inequality and Divergence in Family Formation in sub-Saharan Africa.

ABSTRACT: Economic inequality has been rising in many sub-Saharan African countries alongside rapid changes to union and family formation. In high-income countries marked by rising inequality, union and family formation practices have diverged across socioeconomic statuses, with intergenerational social and health consequences for the disadvantaged. In this study, we address whether there is also evidence of demographic divergence in low-income settings. Specifically, we model the age at first marriage and first birth by socioeconomic status groups for women born between 1960-1989 using Demographic and Health Survey data from twelve sub-Saharan African countries where economic inequality levels are relatively high or rising. We argue that economic and socio-cultural factors may both serve to increas

SUBMITTER: Stoebenau K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9053376 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature