Spatial Analysis of Child Mortality and Welfare Differentials in South Africa: Evidences from the 2011 Census

Samuel A. Zewdie, Ethiopian Development Research Institute
Vissého Adjiwanou, Université Du Québec à Montréal

Welfare differential can be manifested in terms of various economic and health outcomes. Using child mortality as one of a key measure of the country’s health system, the study attempted to show its spatial distribution and the association with economic disparities. Using the 2011 census data, the study aimed to estimates CM for the municipalities and provinces and assessed the results in relation to poverty and inequality. The estimation of CM rates was achieved through the use of direct synthetic cohort methods with Bayesian spatial smoothing. There were clear spatial differentials of CM in the country, where at province and municipal level U5M rate ranges from 26-71 and from 24-09 respectively. It was also shown that CM was higher in poorer and more unequal areas, although there were cases which had an inverse relationship. The study revealed significant spatial differentials of CM in the country, which were also associated with the level of poverty and income inequality.