The Effect of Paternal Education on Child Health in South Africa: A Longitudinal Analysis

Pillay, Sedeshtra Rajandaran

The Effect of Paternal Education on Child Health in South Africa: A Longitudinal Analysis

Master Thesis

2018

Abstract

This paper seeks to explore the relationship between the education of fathers and child health in South Africa. A key aspect of this paper is whether or not fathers are present in the household. We believe paternal absence may attenuate the effect that paternal education has on child health. This study uses the first four waves of the National Income Dynamics Study (NIDS) in order to conduct a longitudinal analysis. This dissertation uses random-effects regression to study the effect of paternal education and presence on height-for-age z-score (HAZ), weight-for-age zscore (WAZ) and perceived health status (PHS) of children aged 0 to 15. The results of this dissertation suggest a significant positive association between paternal secondary and tertiary education and child height-for-age and weight-for-age. Paternal absence is also a significant determinant of these anthropometric outcomes, implying that paternal education may still have a positive effect on child health even if fathers are absent from the household. We find no evidence of a relationship between paternal education and PHS.

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