This dissertation presents a multilevel model of national-level factors and their impact on the organizational-level characteristics of social enterprises and their innovations. This study builds on the foundations of two theoretical frameworks: the national systems of innovation, which recognizes economic competitiveness to be a product of several interrelated institutions (e.g. financial, educational, cultural, historical) and where organizational-level innovation drives country level competitiveness; and the comparative social enterprise framework, which contends that national-level institutions (e.g., economic competitiveness, models of civil society) drive the size and shape of the social enterprise sector of a country. Data for this study were collected from multiple secondary global datasets representing 54 countries across seven world regions. Research questions and hypotheses are examined using ordinal and logistic hierarchical generalized linear modeling, two analytical techniques capable of explaining variation at one level (i.e., organizations) as a consequence of factors at another level of analysis (i.e., countries) for non-normally distributed dependent variables. Findings indicate that economic competitiveness, welfare spending, culture and quality of life significantly impact the odds of a business being a social enterprise. Fewer significant relationships were found social enterprise innovations. Conclusions and policy implications are discussed in light of data limitations and the current state of the field.

Made available in DSpace on 2010-04-20T20:48:34Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 3 71050100715.pdf.jpg: 20836 bytes, checksum: 2f3a403826784c59d194700c281860de (MD5) 71050100715.pdf: 2226737 bytes, checksum: e09731053a49c8d27f62a5765e6ada75 (MD5) 71050100715.pdf.txt: 450493 bytes, checksum: a07b8a6ca4b8e2f82af5525e738e0e07 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-02-11T00:00:00Z / This work had as objective to assess the relation between industrial concentrations and the financial performance of firms located in these places. Literature review sustained the formulation of the hypotheses of this work, which were based on the assumption that location in industrial concentrations provides firms superior return on assets, operational return on assets, asset turnover and organizational slack, when compared to non concentrated firms. Manufacturing industry of the state of São Paulo was the sector chosen for this analysis. For the mapping of industrial concentrations, data on the number of jobs and enterprises from RAIS databank was used, referring to 1996-2005 period. The identification of industrial concentrations allowed SERASA – a company focused on the analysis and information for credit decisions and support to businesses – to elaborate a database of companies located in the state of São Paulo, based on the provision of a list of all industrial sectors characterized by the presence of industrial concentrations. Initially with 8.637 records, the base was reduced to 4.280 records, corresponding to 509 firms belonging to 23 different industries. After data selection, the variable that identifies the areas of the state of São Paulo with industrial concentrations was added to SERASA databank, allowing, therefore, the fulfillment of the analyses of this work. By using the statistical technique of multilevel modeling, it was possible to conclude that there is not enough evidence to claim that location in industrial concentration provides firms superior return on assets, operational return on assets, asset turnover or organizational slack, when compared to non concentrated firms. However, decomposition of variance of these indicators allowed to conclude that “city’ and the way “city” and an “industry” interact play a major role in determining the variability of these indicators. This result suggests that location does matter to the way firms will perform. Analyses still allowed the estimation of the effect of each interaction between industry and city on the proposed indicators. Besides the great variability of these effects, it was not detected a significant difference between the effects of interactions with and without industrial concentrations. Therefore, other factors specific to these interactions, rather than industrial concentrations, would be able to explain why some interactions have very positive effects on their firms, while other have very low or negative effects. Limitations inherent to this work keep results from being generalized. However, one believes that its contributions are able to show new possibilities of research on the field of industrial concentration, so to understand the real importance of this phenomenon for the competitiveness of companies. / Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a relação entre as concentrações industriais e o desempenho financeiro das empresas nelas instaladas. A revisão de literatura sustentou a formulação das hipóteses deste trabalho, que partiram do pressuposto de que a localização em concentrações industriais proporciona às firmas maior retorno sobre ativos, retorno operacional sobre ativos, giro dos ativos e slack organizacional, em relação às empresas não concentradas. A indústria de manufatura do estado de São Paulo foi o setor escolhido para análise. Para o mapeamento das concentrações industriais, foram utilizados os dados da base de empregos e estabelecimentos da RAIS, referentes ao período 1996-2005. A identificação das concentrações industriais permitiu à SERASA, empresa de análises e informações para decisões de crédito e apoio a negócios, elaborar uma base de dados de empresas localizadas no estado de São Paulo, mediante o fornecimento da relação dos setores industriais caracterizados pela presença de concentrações. Inicialmente com 8.637 registros, a base foi reduzida a 4.280 registros, correspondentes a 509 firmas pertencentes a 23 diferentes indústrias. Após a seleção dos dados, a variável que identifica as áreas do estado de São Paulo com concentrações industriais foi inserida na base da SERASA, permitindo, dessa forma, a realização das análises deste trabalho. Por meio da técnica estatística de modelos multiníveis, foi possível constatar que não há evidências suficientes para afirmar que a localização em concentrações industriais proporciona às empresas maior retorno sobre ativos, retorno operacional sobre ativos, giro dos ativos ou slack organizacional, em relação às empresas não localizadas em concentrações. No entanto, a decomposição da variância desses indicadores permitiu constatar que o município e a forma como um município e uma indústria interagem são determinantes na variabilidade desses indicadores. Este resultado sugere que a localização importa, e muito, na forma como as empresas irão se desempenhar. As análises ainda permitiram estimar o efeito de cada interação entre indústria e município sobre os indicadores propostos. Além da constatação de uma grande variabilidade desses efeitos, não foi detectada uma diferença significativa entre os efeitos das interações com e sem concentrações industriais. Portanto, outros fatores específicos a essas interações, que não a concentração industrial, seriam capazes de explicar porque algumas interações possuem efeitos muitos positivos sobre suas empresas, enquanto outras, efeitos muito pequenos ou negativos. As limitações inerentes a este trabalho impedem a generalização de seus resultados. No entanto, acredita-se que as suas contribuições sejam capazes de mostrar novas possibilidades de pesquisa no campo das concentrações industriais, a fim de compreender a real importância deste fenômeno para a competitividade das empresas.

Die Paarbeziehung ist ein sozialer Kontext, der individuelle Entwicklung und erfolgreiches Altern beeinflusst. Größere Ähnlichkeit zwischen Partnern wird häufig als adaptiv für das Wohlbefinden des Individuums und die Qualität der Beziehung angesehen; neuere Übersichtsarbeiten weisen allerdings auf die Notwendigkeit diverserer Forschungsdesigns, Analysen und Stichproben hin, die auch das höhere Lebensalter umfassen. Diese Dissertation baut auf sozio-kontextuellen Theorien der Lebensspannenpsychologie auf, und nutzt Längsschnittdaten des Sozio-Ökonomischen Panels (SOEP) mit bis zu 31 jährlichen Erhebungen, sowie Experience Sampling Daten einer einwöchigen Tagebuchstudie zum Alltag älterer Ehepaare. Konkret werden a) die Wohlbefindensähnlichkeit zwischen Lebenspartnern über die Lebensspanne, ihre Korrelate und ihre Entwicklung über die Zeit beschrieben, b) die adaptive Funktionalität größerer Ähnlichkeit im affektiven und evaluativen Wohlbefinden für die Beziehung analysiert sowie c) die Rolle der Kontrollüberzeugung des Partners für das Wohlbefinden des Individuums untersucht. Partner wurden sich nicht ähnlicher in ihrer Lebenszufriedenheit über Jahre und Jahrzehnte, wie Mehrebenenwachstumsmodelle zeigten, allerdings war größere, und steigende, Ähnlichkeit prädiktiv für größere Zufriedenheit mit dem Familienleben. Größere durchschnittliche, und Momente von überdurchschnittlicher Ähnlichkeit im negativen Affekt war assoziiert mit dem Gefühl, den Alltag mit dem Partner gemeinsam besser zu meistern. Größere Kontrollüberzeugung als üblich im einen Partner gingen einher mit höherem Wohlbefinden im anderen Partner, wie Actor-Partner-Interdependence-Modelle zeigen konnten. Die Ergebnisse werden im Rahmen des kollektiven Modells selektiver Optimierung mit Kompensation diskutiert und betonen ein weiteres Mal die Wichtigkeit von Partner- und Beziehungsdynamiken sowie individueller und dyadischer Kontrollüberzeugung für Wohlbefinden und erfolgreiches Altern. / The romantic relationship is a social context that influences individual development and successful aging. Greater similarity between partners, e.g. in emotional well-being, has often been argued to be beneficial for the faring of individual and relationship; however, recent reviews suggest the need for more diverse designs, analyses and samples, which cover not only earlier but also later points in the lifespan. The aim of this dissertation is to make a solid contribution to our understanding of well-being similarity and dynamics between romantic partners across the lifespan and in old age. To do so, it draws on notions of socio-contextual theories of lifespan development and utilizes data from a macrolongitudinal study spanning more than 31 annual waves (SOEP) and an extensive experience sampling study on older couples’ everyday life. Specifically, this dissertation a) describes the nature and development of well-being similarity over time and its correlates b) investigates the adaptive potential of well-being similarity for relationship functioning, and c) explores how the individual’s well-being is influenced by the partner’s control perceptions. Multilevel growth models showed that partners did not grow more similar over time in their life satisfaction, and that greater, and increasing, similarity in life satisfaction similarity predicted greater satisfaction with family life. Actor–partner interdependence models revealed that average, and momentary, similarity in negative affect was positively related to everyday perceptions of dyadic mastery, and that the partner's higher momentary control beliefs were associated with lower negative affect in the individual.

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This study used the TIMSS 2011 International Database to investigate predictors of 8th-grade mathematics achievement across three countries that represent a wide range of cultures and levels of mathematics achievement: Chinese Taipei, Ghana, and the United States. A review of literature on predictors of mathematics achievement yielded variables in four major contexts of learning—a student’s home, beliefs, school, and classroom. The variables of home that were investigated are home possessions for learning, parent education, and parents’ expectations and involvement in their children’s education. The variables of student beliefs were self-confidence in mathematics and the value of mathematics. The variables of school were school climate, school resources, administrator leadership, and school socioeconomic status. Finally, the variables of the classroom are access and equity, curriculum, tools and technology, assessment, and teacher professionalism. A 2-level hierarchical linear model was used to investigate relationships between the predictors for learning mathematics and 8th-grade mathematics achievement. Level 1 represented the relationships among the student-level variables, and Level 2 represented the school-level variables. In Chinese Taipei, statistically significant predictors of mathematics achievement in the final model included variables from the domains of home resources, student beliefs, school climate, and school socioeconomic status. In Ghana, both student-beliefs variables had statistically significant relationships with mathematics achievement, and one school climate and one school socioeconomic status variable each was found statistically significant. The U.S. had statistically significant predictors in the domains of home resources, student beliefs, school socioeconomic status, classroom-level access and equity, classroom assessment, and teacher professionalism. This study extends previous research in several ways. It includes a review of classic and recent literature regarding predictors of mathematics achievement; 17 scales using the Rasch partial credit model were developed to measure predictors of mathematics achievement; and the results of this study may be used to examine the relationships between the independent variables of this study and middle-grades mathematics achievement in countries similar to the 3 in this study to reinforce and support variables that contribute to student achievement.

Couples experiencing relationship distress often require professional help, such as counseling and couple and relationship education (CRE). Research recently discovered that among couples in counseling, a circular relationship exists between individual and relationship distress-stress begets stress. Until this study, a similar examination had not been conducted among couples selecting CRE. This study examined the relationship between individual and relationship distress among married couples that had children, were from predominantly low-income and racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds, and selected CRE. A correlational research design was employed and framed in the social interdependence theory. The actor-partner interdependence model was conducted within a three-level hierarchical model. The results confirmed that a circular relationship exists between individual and relationship distress-distress begets distress. Within the circular model of individual and relational functioning, personal individual distress predicted partner individual distress as well as personal and partner relationship distress, and personal relationship distress predicted personal individual distress and partner relationship distress. The extent to which distress begot distress was stronger among women, those with low income, and those who were unemployed. The results also revealed a continuum of individual and relational functioning. Dyad members interact along a continuum from intrapersonal individual functioning to interpersonal relational functioning. The continua meet at the nexus of negotiation or the heart of interpersonal interaction, where dyad members communicate and make decisions, among other actions. Implications related to the findings of this study as well as inspirations for future research are discussed.

Au cours de la préadolescence, la durée totale de sommeil diminue et des retards importants dans l’horaire de sommeil se produisent. Cependant, la plupart des études utilisent des données transversales et/ou des mesures subjectives du sommeil, limitant la qualité méthodologique des données. Aussi, le point milieu du sommeil, le décalage horaire social (DHS) et la variabilité intra-individuelle (VII) du sommeil restent rarement abordés. Nous avons suivi 128 préadolescents (69 filles) ayant un développement typique pendant 4 ans, entre les âges de 8 et 12 ans. L’actigraphie a été utilisée pour déterminer le sommeil typique (soit la valeur moyenne), le DHS et la VII de quatre aspects du sommeil : l’heure du coucher, l’heure du lever, le point milieu du sommeil et la durée totale de sommeil. Des courbes de croissance multiniveaux ont été modélisées pour examiner à la fois les changements intra- et inter-individuels. Avec l'âge, l'horaire de sommeil devient progressivement plus tardif, la durée de sommeil diminue linéairement, et des augmentations significatives sont observés à la fois pour le DHS et la VII. Des différences individuelles autour des moyennes du groupe ont aussi été notées pour le DHS de l'heure du coucher et de la durée de sommeil. De plus, les filles présentent des différences plus importantes dans leur sommeil entre les jours comparativement aux garçons. Ces résultats décrivent des changements significatifs dans le sommeil des préadolescents au cours des années. Nous discutons des implications potentielles de ces trajectoires sur le fonctionnement physiologique, psychologique et social des jeunes. / Pre-adolescence is a period of marked changes in sleep-wake cycles characterized by a gradual decrease in adolescents' total sleep time (TST) and later sleep schedules with age. However, much of the research supporting these developmental trends has been based on cross-sectional data and/or subjective measures of sleep, limiting the methodological quality of the evidence. Additionally, important sleep parameters, like sleep midpoint, social jetlag and variability in sleep remain seldomly studied. We followed 128 typically developing preadolescents (69 female) over 4 years, between ages 8 and 12 years. Actigraphy-derived estimates of typical (i.e., mean) sleep, social jetlag and intra-individual variability were obtained for four sleep parameters: sleep onset, sleep offset, sleep midpoint, and TST. Multilevel growth curves were modelled to examine both within-person change and between-person differences in these trajectories. Across the period of pre-adolescence, sleep schedule became progressively later, mean TST decreased linearly, and significant increases were observed for both social jetlag and variability in sleep. Important individual differences around the average group estimates were noted for the social jetlag of sleep offset and TST. Sex differences were also observed, with girls experiencing greater between-day differences in their sleep than boys. These results describe significant age-related changes in the sleep of pre-adolescents. We discuss potential implications of these trajectories on youths’ physiological, psychological, and social functioning.

La vaccination est une des meilleures procédures de prévention coût-efficaces. Des couvertures vaccinales non adéquates présentent des problèmes de Santé publique considérables. Réduire ou éliminer les occasions manquées de vaccination (OMV) dans les régions les plus vulnérables permettrait d’y augmenter la couverture vaccinale. L’Inde a un des plus grands programmes de vaccination dans le monde, cependant il y existe d’importants gradients de couvertures vaccinales d’une région à l’autre. Objectifs : Cette étude visait à estimer la prévalence des OMV chez des jeunes enfants en zone rurale de Hardoi en Inde et identifier les potentiels déterminants et facteurs prédictifs des OMV. Méthodes : Les données secondaires d’une étude pré-post ont été utilisées pour mener une étude transversale. Les OMV ont été définies selon la définition de l’Organisation mondiale de la santé. Deux sources d’information sur le statut vaccinal ont été considérées : mémoire des mère ou carnet de vaccination (M/C) pour les analyses principales; et carnet de vaccination seulement (CS) en analyse de sensibilité. La prévalence des OMV dans la première année de vie (OMV-1AV) chez les enfants de 12 à moins de 24 mois et celle des OMV pendant la période optimale de vaccination (OMV-PO) chez les 0 à moins de 24 mois ont été calculées par sexe et bloc administratif. Les potentiels déterminants des OMV ont été identifiés à l’aide de modèles hiérarchiques. Des modèles prédictifs ont été construits pour identifier les facteurs qui permettraient de mieux cibler les enfants plus à risque d’OMV: leur pouvoir prédictif a été évalué avec la statistique c. Résultats : La prévalence des OMV-1AV selon la source M/C est de 19,3% ; celle selon CS est de 76,0%. La prévalence des OMV-PO selon M/C est de 14,6% alors qu’elle est de 65,7% selon CS. Pour les OMV-1AV et les OMV-PO, la prévalence variait d’un vaccin à l’autre mais seulement selon CS. Les déterminants des OMV varient selon la source d’information sur le statut vaccinal. Les principaux potentiels déterminants selon M/C sont: problèmes logistiques (OMV-1AV Rapport de cotes (RC) = 3,38; OMV-PO RC = 2,59); malaise ressenti chez l’enfant (OMV-1AV RC = 0,37; OMV-PO RC = 0,52); refus des vaccinateurs de vacciner sans avoir le carnet de vaccination (OMV-1AV RC = 5,66; OMV-1AV RC = 5,23); effets secondaires (OMV RC = 8,24; OMV-PO RC = 5,62); et le fait qu’un membre de la famille s’oppose à la vaccination de l’enfant; (OMV-1AV RC = 4,03; OMV-PO RC = 4,61). Des modèles prédictifs efficaces ont été construits et présentaient des statistiques c variant entre 0,72 et 0,79. Certains facteurs permettaient d’améliorer le pouvoir prédictif des modèles sans être nécessairement des potentiels déterminant des OMV tel que le temps de déplacement à pied entre le ménage et le centre de vaccination. Retombées : Les résultats suggèrent que la situation des OMV est complexe que ce soit du point de vue de la source d’information sur le statut vaccinal, de l’identification de leurs potentiels déterminants ou sur la capacité à cibler les individus les plus à risque. Les divergences au niveau des estimations de la prévalence selon la source d’information soulignent l’importance d’assurer un meilleur contrôle de la validité des sources d’information afin de maximiser l’exactitude des informations fournies. / Introduction: Missed opportunities for vaccination (MOV) affect vaccination coverages and contribute to create considerable vaccination gradient between and within regions. In India, despite major vaccination accomplishments, important vaccination gradients persist. MOV have been reported but the situation is not well known in many parts of the country. Aim: Quantify MOV in children in rural Hardoi district and identify potential determinants and predictive factors. Methods: We defined MOV using the definition of the World Health Organization. Our outcomes were missed opportunities for vaccination in first year of life (MOV-FYL) and missed opportunities for on-time vaccination (MO-OTV). We used a cross-sectional design. Vaccination status was verified according to two sources: by mothers’ recalls OR children vaccination card for the main analysis; and by vaccination card only for sensitivity analysis. We calculated the prevalence of both outcomes in a clustered population of 0 to under 24month-old children recruited in a census-like manner from rural area in Hardoi, India. We used multilevel binary logistic regression to identify potential determinants of MOV and multivariable logistic regression to built prediction models. Results: The prevalence was 19.30% and 14.39% for MOV-FYL and MO-OTV respectively. There were little variations across child sex and vaccines. However, among vaccination cardholders, the prevalence was 75.99% and 65.73% for MOV-FYL and MO-OTV respectively and varied across vaccines. Marked potential determinants using the main source of information about vaccination status were: logistics problems (MOV-FYL Odds Ratio (OR) = 3.38; MO-OTV OR = 2.59); child feeling unwell (MOV-FYL OR = 0.37; MO-OTV OR = 0.52); the refusal of health provider to vaccinate without the vaccination card (MOV-FYL OR = 5.66; MO-OTV OR = 5.23); side effects (MOV-FYL OR = 8.24; MO-OTV OR = 5.62); and family member not allowing vaccination (MOV-FYL OR = 4.03; MO-OTV OR = 4.61). Predictive models for MOV-FYL and MO-OTV yielded c statistics around 0.72 and 0.79 respectively and had the best sensitivity/specificity balance when used in a population with 15%-20% probability of MOV. Conclusion: Our study revealed that quantifying the prevalence of MOV is rather complexed. The source of information about vaccination status is key to obtain the best estimates, hence the knowledge on the reliability of the information from the card or obtained from recalls is a must. Many potential modifiable determinants should be explored and there is potential for predictability: interventions should be developed to reduce risks of MOV in targeted individuals, increase vaccination coverage and reduce vaccination gradients.

Le 1er avril 2003, l’entrée en vigueur de la Loi sur le système de justice pénale pour les adolescents (LSJPA) a fourni aux policiers canadiens de nouveaux outils pour procéder à des interventions non-judiciaires auprès d’adolescents contrevenants. Dorénavant, les policiers détiennent le pouvoir officiel d’imposer des mesures extrajudiciaires aux adolescents interpellés pour avoir commis des infractions plutôt que de procéder à leur arrestation formelle. La présente étude vise à déterminer quelles caractéristiques des adolescents et circonstances des infractions ont un impact significatif sur les décisions des policiers d’imposer ces mesures plutôt que de procéder à des arrestations. Les résultats sont basés sur trois échantillons de participations criminelles juvéniles enregistrées par un corps policier canadien entre 2003 et 2010: le premier composé d’infractions contre la personne (n= 3 482), le second, d’infractions contre la propriété (n= 8 230) et le troisième, d’autres crimes (n= 1 974). L’analyse de régression logistique multiniveaux a été utilisée pour déterminer les facteurs — tels que le sexe, l’âge et les contacts antérieurs avec la justice des adolescents ainsi que la localisation dans le temps et l’espace de l’infraction — ont un impact significatif sur le pouvoir discrétionnaire des policiers. Certains facteurs ont une influence universelle d’une catégorie de crime à l’autre, tandis que d’autres ont un impact spécifique selon le type d’infraction commise. / Since April 3rd 2003, the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) provides police officers with new tools to divert canadian juvenile offenders. Specifically, police officers can officially impose extrajudicial measures to juvenile delinquents instead of handing them directly to the justice system. The current study seeks to determine which characteristics of the offenders and circumstances of the offences significantly impact the decisions of officers to divert cases instead of sending them to the formal justice system. The results are based on three samples of juvenile offence participations recorded by a Canadian police force between 2003 and 2010: the first composed of violent offences (n= 3,482), the second, of proprety offences (n= 8,230) and the third, of other offences (n= 1,974). Multilevel logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine which factors - for example, gender, age, and criminal record of the offender as well as location in time and space of the offence - have a significant impact on police decision-making for each category of offence. Although some factors have similar significant impacts regardless of offence type, others have a differential influence depending on the type of crime that was committed.

La santé des enfants demeure une question prioritaire en Afrique sub-saharienne. Les disparités en matière de mortalité entre pays et au sein des pays persistent et se sont fortement accrues durant la dernière décennie. En dépit de solides arguments théoriques voulant que les variables contextuelles soient des déterminants importants de la santé des enfants, ces facteurs, et particulièrement les influences du contexte local, ont été étudiées beaucoup moins souvent que les caractéristiques individuelles. L'objectif principal de la présente thèse est d’identifier les déterminants individuels et contextuels associés à la mortalité des enfants de moins de 5 ans en Afrique sub-saharienne. L’analyse systématique est basée sur les données les plus récentes des enquêtes démographiques et de santé (DHS/EDS). Deux questions spécifiques sont examinées dans cette thèse. La première évalue la mesure dans la quelle le contexte local affecte la mortalité infanto-juvénile, net des caractéristiques individuelles. La seconde question est consacrée à l’examen de l’effet du faible poids à la naissance sur le risque de décès avant 5 ans. Par rapport à la première question, les analyses multi-niveaux confirment pour plusieurs pays étudiés l’importance simultanée de l’environnement familial et du contexte local de résidence dans l’explication des différences de mortalité infanto-juvénile. Toutefois, par comparaison au contexte familial, l’ampleur de l’effet de l’environnement local paraît assez modeste. Il apparaît donc que le contexte familial reste un puissant déterminant de la mortalité des enfants de moins de 5 ans en Afrique sub-saharienne. Les résultats indiquent en outre que certains attributs du contexte local de résidence influencent le risque de décès des enfants avant 5 ans, au-delà des facteurs individuels dans plusieurs pays. Cette thèse confirme l’effet contextuel de l’éducation sur la mortalité des enfants. Cet effet s’ajoute, dans certains pays, à l'effet positif du niveau individuel d’éducation de la mère sur la survie de l'enfant. Les résultats montrent aussi que le degré d’homogénéité ethnique de la localité influence fortement la probabilité de mourir avant 5 ans dans certains pays. Globalement, les résultats de cette thèse suggèrent que le défi de réduire la mortalité des enfants va au-delà des stratégies visant uniquement les facteurs individuels, et nécessite une meilleure compréhension de l’influence des facteurs contextuels. Par rapport à la deuxième question, les résultats montrent également que les facteurs individuels restent aussi très importants dans l’explication des différences de mortalité des enfants dans plusieurs pays étudiés. Nos résultats indiquent que les différences de mortalité selon le poids à la naissance sont significatives dans tous les pays inclus dans l’analyse. Les enfants nés avec un faible poids (moins de 2500 grammes) courent presque 2 à 4 fois plus de risques de mourir au cours des cinq premières années de vie que les enfants de poids normal, même après correction pour l’hétérogénéité non observée. Ce résultat suggère qu’en plus des mesures visant à réduire la pauvreté et les inégalités de revenus, la réduction de l’incidence du faible poids à la naissance pourrait apporter une contribution majeure aux Objectifs du Millénaire pour le développement; spécialement comme une stratégie efficace pour réduire le niveau de mortalité parmi les enfants de moins de cinq ans. / Child health remains a priority area for health policy in sub-Saharan Africa. Disparities in child mortality between and within countries have persisted and widened considerably during the last few decades. While researchers have devoted considerable attention to the impact of individual-level factors on child mortality, less is known about how community characteristics and institutions affect health outcomes for children, even though they have a prominent role in theoretical models. The aim of this thesis is to identify individual and contextual effects of child mortality by using data from the latest round of Demographic Health Surveys for all countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Two sets of questions are addressed in this research. First, we evaluate the impact of contextual factors on the risk of dying before age 5 net of the effect of individual factors. The results indicate that some attributes of the community influence the mortality risks of children, over and above the intermediate factors included in this investigation. For instance, in half of the countries under study a 1% increase in the proportion of children fully immunized in the community is associated with a decrease of 17-79% in the odds of dying before age 5. The proportion of women in the community completing secondary school also significantly increases child survival. This effect is, in some countries, in addition to the positive individual-level effect of the child’s own mother being educated. Net of individual and household characteristics, higher community-level ethnic homogeneity is associated with decreased odds of dying before age 5 in some countries. Overall, the results of this study therefore suggest that the challenge to reduce under-five mortality goes beyond addressing individual factors, and requires a better understanding of contextual factors. Second, the study exploits recent national survey data for nine countries in sub-Saharan Africa to investigate the association of LBW and mortality not only in infancy but also during childhood, using a standardized methodology to adjust missing birth weight data from household surveys while accounting for unobserved family-level factors (genetic or behavioral) that may modify the relationship between birth weight and under-five-years mortality. We find evidence of the impact of birth weight on the risk of dying not only in infancy but also during childhood, which remains strong and significant in all countries even after controlling for potential confounding factors. The main policy implication of our findings is that reducing the incidence of LBW may be an important prevention strategy to combating child mortality in sub-Saharan Africa countries.