Neighbourhood mothers' education and its differential impact on stunting: Evidence from 30 Sub-Saharan African countries

Abstract

The study used data from Demographic and Health Surveys for 30 Sub-Saharan African countries to investigate differences in the residential effects of mothers' education on stunting. Multilevel logistic regressions were employed to examine the neighbourhood effects of mothers' education on stunting. The study found that although a higher proportion of mothers with secondary education in a neighbourhood, irrespective of the residence type (rural or urban), reduces a child's probability of being stunted, this effect is stronger for children residing in rural areas than those in the urban. Achieving a target of at least 75 per cent of mothers obtaining secondary education and higher will bridge the rural-urban gap in stunting in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Keywords: Inequalities; Mothers' education; Rural-urban disparities; Stunting; Sub-Saharan Africa.