Analysis of socioeconomic inequality in childhood undernutrition in Niger and Kenya

This thesis analyses the distribution of childhood undernutrition in Niger and Kenya. The years 2008 and 2014 are studied and compared for Kenya, while 2006 and 2012 are studied and compared for Niger. Data from from the Demographic Health Surveys is used. The surveys on wealth and nutrition are used for analysis. Childhood undernutrition is measured using height-for-age Z-scores. Socioeconomic inequality is measured using the standard and Erreygers’ concentration index. Both countries exhibit pro-poor inequality in childhood undernutrition. A test for concentration curve dominance was conducted, but no dominance was found for both countries. The Bennett bidirectional test of stochastic dominance is used to test whether the latter year stochastically dominates the former year in terms of the distribution of undernutrition. This is the case for Niger, but not for Kenya. The same test is conducted to test for stochastic dominance across wealth quintiles, results varied per country. Key takeaway of this descriptive study is that it is important to consider distributional patterns when analysing and comparing undernutrition of (different) countries, so that in that way specific policies to reduce undernutrition in the most efficient way can be designed.