Changes in Household Structure and Equity and Contribution to Achieving the Millennium Development Goals: The Role of Indepth-Network Data

Jacques B. O. Emina, University of Kinshasa
Martin Bangha, INDEPTH Network
Alioune Diagne, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)
Osman Sankoh, INDEPTH Network

Earlier studies have shown relationships between household characteristics and the MDG indicators. However, household structure is not static. Children or women may move from one type of household to another. Therefore, it is difficult to distinguish the effects of household structure from the effects of household structure stability. This paper aims to show how data from Health and Demographic Surveillance Systems of INDEPTH Network can contribute to assess the influence of changes in household structure on children and female related MDGs. Information from 17 HDSS revealed that HDSS databases include relevant for monitoring changes in household structure (relationship to the head of household, membership start event, membership end event, membership start and end dates), child mortality and child education. By contrast, few HDSS collect data on reproductive health and child morbidity. The study recommends empirical studies using these data to improve understanding the millennium development indicators trends in LMICs.