The effects of household assets inequality and conflict on population health in Sudan

  • Amel S Omer Sudan Federal Ministry of Health, Khartoum, Sudan
  • Stephen Bezruchka University of Washington
  • Dario Longhi Participatory Research Consulting LLC, Olympia, Washington
  • Zane Kelly University of Washington
  • Marsha Brown Participatory Research Consulting LLC, Olympia, Washington, USA.
  • Amy Hagopian University of Washington
Keywords: Africa, Sudan, Health inequalities, Income inequality, Poverty

Abstract

We explored the effects on health of both household asset inequality and political armed conflict in Sudan. Using the 2010 Sudan household survey, we evaluated the role of both household asset distribution (measured by the Gini coefficient) and armed conflict status at the state level. We measured associations with six health-related outcomes: life expectancy, infant mortality, height-for-age (stunting), adequacy of food consumption, teenage birth rates and vaccination coverage for young children. For each of six measures of health in Sudan, outcomes were significantly worse in the states with more unequal asset distribution, with correlation coefficients ranging between -0.56 (stunting) and -0.80 (life expectancy). Conflict status predicted worse outcomes. Wealth redistribution in the more unequal states, as well as a political resolution of conflict, may improve population health.

Author Biographies

Stephen Bezruchka, University of Washington
Departments of Health Services and Global Health,
Zane Kelly, University of Washington
Applied Physics Lab, Seattle, Washington
Amy Hagopian, University of Washington
Departments of Health Services and Global Health,
Published
2014-09-22
Section
Articles