Causes and Child Health Consequences of Maternal Fertility Choices in Cameroon

Abstract

This paper examined correlates of fertility choices and the effect of fertility choices on child health status, while controlling for other correlates. Use is made of the 2004 Cameroon Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) and the control function econometric approach to address these issues. Results showed that women with twins have higher fertility and fertility choices are strongly negatively correlated with child health. There is an indirect effect of fertility on child health captured by the interaction of fertility with its predicted residual. Motheri¯s education at both household and community levels was found to be inversely related with maternal fertility but consistent with the production of better child health. Policy implications suggested that expanding public support for social services reaching poor households, would accordingly reduce expected fertility rates and bring about better child health.