Family structure, rural livelihoods and child health inequality in Tanzania

International inequalities in child health are well documented by population scientists, with children growing up in rural settings in sub-Saharan Africa at the greatest risk of poor health outcomes. In contrast, the factors that determine inequalities in child health within developing rural communities that share similar levels of service provision remain poorly understood. Building on theory and previous research by anthropological and evolutionary demographers, we examine family structure (i.e. family size, polygynous marriage) and alternative rural livelihoods (i.e. farming, pastoralism, wage-labour) as determinants of child health across an ethnically diverse sample of 56 villages in northern Tanzania. Out of 3400 children, WHO standards classify 41% as stunted, 16% as underweight and 4% as wasted. Preliminary analyses confirm marked differences in child health by family structure and livelihood. Presented analyses will use multilevel modelling to determine the relative importance of these factors amid a broader set of socioeconomic and demographic determinants, and furthermore consider hypothesised interactions between family structure and household characteristics. Findings will be discussed with regard to the cultural and socioeconomic factors that determine observed patterns, along with potential policy implications.