Both parents matter: a decomposition analysis of under-5 mortality according to parental migratory origin in Belgium
(2024) , 33 pages
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- Authors
Guillot, Michel 
- Abstract
- The well-being of children with immigrant parents is a major concern in immigration countries. In this study, we examine the immigrant-native under-5 mortality gap, its trend, and regional disparities while identifying factors associated with this gap and variations based on the migratory origin of the father or mother. We used a dataset that includes civil registration records (birth and death certificates) and census data (2001 and 2011). Our analyses span all live births (1998-2020) that occurred in Belgium, i.e. 2,692,524. By calculating under-5 mortality based on the migratory origin of parents defined by the father's or mother's country of birth, we distinguish between two groups: (Belgian-born as native-born and immigrant-born. In a multivariate decomposition model, where infant characteristics (sex, multiple births, birth rank, and birth weight) and parental characteristics, particularly the mother (age at childbirth, marital status, and socioeconomic index) were adjusted, the calendar year variable was introduced as a control variable. Analyses were conducted separately for each parent at the national level and then replicated in each of the three Belgian regions. The results yield four main conclusions. First, there are disparities in under-5 mortality, largely explained by socioeconomic gap, between native and immigrant, to the disadvantage of the latter. Second, these disparities are also found at the regional level, particularly in Flanders, where these disparities are substantial. Third, these disparities are more significant when using the father's origin compared to the mother's, and they have decreased between 1998 and 2020, with an even greater reduction observed for the father's origin. Finally, despite a greater mortality disparity in Flanders, the reduction in these disparities has occurred more significantly in Wallonia. These findings underline the importance of considering the father’s migratory origin, alongside that of the mother in infant health inequalities. Given these results, social inequality reduction policies must be consolidated and reinforced, particularly in Flanders.
- Affiliations
Population Studies Center, University of Pennsylvania Ined
Citations
Idohou, E. (2024). Both parents matter: a decomposition analysis of under-5 mortality according to parental migratory origin in Belgium. https://hdl.handle.net/2078.5/269161