Women’s empowerment and under-five mortality in Cameroon
Аннотация
Purpose Under-five mortality remains a significant challenge in Cameroon, despite ongoing efforts to enhance child health in developing nations. This study examines the impact of women’s empowerment on reducing under-five mortality, drawing on data from the fifth round of the Cameroonian Demographic and Health Survey. Design/methodology/approach This study adopts three indicators to represent distinct aspects of women’s empowerment: attitudes toward domestic violence, participation in household decision-making and freedom of movement. A composite index for each of these indicators is constructed using the Multiple Correspondence Analysis approach. The empirical analysis is conducted using multivariate logistic regression, with odds ratios as the key measure of effect. Findings The findings indicate that women’s involvement in household decision-making and their autonomy in social activities have a crucial influence in lowering under-five mortality in Cameroon. Conversely, women’s attitudes toward domestic violence do not seem to have a substantial effect on the likelihood of under-five mortality. These results underscore the importance of prioritizing women’s empowerment in public policies aimed at reducing child mortality. Specifically, such policies should focus on strengthening women’s decision-making power within households and fostering their liberty of mobility. Originality/value The study complements the extant literature by assessing how women’s empowerment affects mortality among children under five in Cameroon.