Gender gaps in child nutrition in Malawi: Does cultural lineage matter?

doi:10.35241/emeraldopenres.13468.1

Paper

Gender gaps in child nutrition in Malawi: Does cultural lineage matter?

Published Feb 27, 2020 · M. Mwale, T. Kamninga, Lucius Cassim

Emerald Open Research

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Abstract

The paper investigates whether cultural lineage mediates gender gaps in child nutrition. It captures nutrition using height-for-age and stunting. The analysis uses the 2014 Malawi Millennium Development Goals Endline Survey data. We find evidence of male child nutrition deprivation in matrilineal cultural lineage. The gender of the household head does not relate to the mediating role of lineage on gendered nutrition gaps. As such, the analysis of gendered nutrition should account for the potential impact of culture to produce policy relevant estimates. Furthermore, deficiencies in male nutrition remains a strong health problem, particularly in cultures that benefit most from returns on female children. In these cultures, lineage dominates personal parental preferences. Therefore, there is a need to revisit received wisdom that providing more resources to female heads eliminates gender gaps by provision of culture-tailored nutritional interventions.

Observational Study

Study Snapshot

Cultural lineage mediates gender gaps in child nutrition in Malawi, with males facing deprivation despite having a household head of female gender.

PopulationOlder adults (50-71 years)

Sample size24

MethodsObservational

OutcomesBody Mass Index projections

ResultsSocial networks mitigate obesity in older groups.

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