Case, A.; Paxson, C.; Ableidinger, J.

Orphans in Africa: parental death, poverty, and school enrollment
2004, Demography, N*deg;41, 3, p. 483-508

Keywords : Age Factors; Child; Communication; Death rate; Demographic Factors; Economic Factors; Educational Status; Family and Household; Family Characteristics; Family Relationships; Impact; Mortality; Orphans; Parents; Population; Population Characteristics; Population Dynamics; Poverty; School Enrollment; Socioeconomic Factors; Socioeconomic Status; Summary report; Youth
Countries : Africa; Developing Countries

Abstract : We examine the impact of orphanhood on children's school enrollment in 10 sub-Saharan African countries. Although poorer children in Africa are less likely to attend school, the lower enrollment of orphans is not accounted for solely by their poverty. We find that orphans are less likely to be enrolled than are nonorphans with whom they live. Consistent with Hamilton's rule, the theory that the closeness of biological ties governs altruistic behavior, outcomes for orphans depend on the relatedness of orphans to their household heads. The lower enrollment of orphans is largely explained by the greater tendency of orphans to live with distant relatives or unrelated caregivers. (author's)

Notes : English; The official journal of Population Association of America (PAA). The editor welcomes submissions that contribute to the scientific literature in population studies and that are of general interest to demographers.; Demography is now available online.; http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/dem

Web site : http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/demography/v041/41.3case.pdf