Fertility and changes in household wealth in the Tanzanian Lake Region

Janine Huisman, Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen
Jeroen Smits, Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen

Effects of changing fertility on household wealth are studied for 807 women from 54 villages in the Tanzania Lake region (Kagera, Mwanza, Mara). Data were collected using a panel design with interviews in 2004 and 2010. Dependent variable is the change in household wealth over this period. Main independent variables are number and age of children in 2004 and number of births between 2004 and 2010. Control factors at the household level are major shocks between 2004 and 2010, socio-economic and demographic factors, and changes therein. Major context factors are indicators for the quality and availability of (reproductive) health facilities, level of development, urbanization and cultural factors. Data are analyzed using multilevel regression models, including explanatory variables at the household, village and district level. Interaction analyses are performed to find out to what extent the effects of fertility on household wealth depend on the circumstances in which the household lives.