Maternal Immunization and Birth Weight in Cameroon

Abstract

This study investigates the effects of mother's immunization against tetanus on child health in Cameroon using data from demographic and surveys for 2004 and 2011, enriched with data from the Ministry of Agriculture for the same periods. The results show that maternal immunization during pregnancy is associated with a large increase in birth weight nationally as well as in rural and urban areas. Further, child health correlates positively with the economic wellbeing of the household. Other variables that are significantly associated with birth weight include mother's age, father's education, a twin birth, and a child's gender. These finding can help design policies to improve child health in Cameroon.