The overall objective of this dissertation is to develop and empirically assess an integrated and systematic theoretical framework to illuminate the effects of polygyny on infant mortality. Mosley and Chen's analytic model was integrated with that of Nam, Eberstein, Deeb and Terrie to provide a unique framework for guiding the application of multi-equation structural models to data from the Ghana Demographic and Health Surveys (GDHS). / The pertinent question examined in this study relates to the role marriage form plays in infant mortality. The key point is that if polygyny is beneficial as expected from the environmental theory, for example, then comparable infants should have a lower probability of dying in polygynous than in monogamous unions. This analysis tests the relative effects and the mechanisms through which polygyny affects infant survival. Another dimension studied is the mediating role which polygyny plays in the link between background factors and infant survival. / The study is carried out using a sample of infants born in the five years preceding the 1988 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS). Two statistical models are used, a structural equation method and simulations. A causal model is constructed in which maternal education, maternal occupation, place of residence, ethnicity, polygyny, age at first marriage, preceding birth interval, prenatal care, breastfeeding, and type of toilet facility in the household are examined as determinants of infant mortality/survival. Socioeconomic variables are considered as exogenous with polygyny, age at first marriage, preceding birth interval, prenatal care, breastfeeding, and toilet facility as endogenous in the model. The model is tested by maximum likelihood method and logistic regression. / The findings indicate that maternal education, occupation, rural residence and ethnicity positively influence polygyny, which in turn affects infant survival. Polygyny is found to be an important mediating factor between background characteristics and the proximate determinants in affecting infant survival. Traditional care, unsupplemented breastfeeding, and the presence of sanitary toilet facilities are also found to affect infant survival. The results from both the logistic regression and maximum likelihood procedure indicate that the effect of the proximate determinants are in the expected direction. These findings highlight the relevance of family structure (polygyny) as an intervening factor in accounting for infant survival. / In conclusion there is evidence to suggest that maternal socioeconomic characteristics are associated with not only polygyny but also maternal behavior, environmental contamination and infant survival. Overall, polygyny appears to mediate the effect of socioeconomic variables and proximate determinants on infant survival. / In terms of policy implication it is suggested that mothers be given basic techniques regarding disease prevention. Above all, consideration must be given to family structure in planning and implementing programs with respect to birthspacing, prenatal care and breastfeeding. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 54-07, Section: A, page: 2747. / Major Professor: Isaac W. Eberstein. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1993.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_76939 |
| Contributors | Amankwaa, Adansi A., Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text |
| Format | 194 p. |
| Rights | On campus use only. |
| Relation | Dissertation Abstracts International |
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