Single Motherhood and Child Mortality: Is Poverty the Link?

In the slums of Nairobi, like elsewhere in Africa, children whose mothers were never married or divorced face a significantly higher risk of dying than children whose parents are married. Drawing on both qualitative and longitudinal quantitative data from two informal settlements in Nairobi, this study explores possible causal mechanisms, paying particular attention to the importance of poverty. We find that children living in the wealthiest households are 22% less likely to have a single mother than children residing in the poorest households. In-depth interviews support these findings and reveal the daily struggles single mothers face in meeting their children’s basic needs. However, in contrast to studies from Western societies, we find little evidence that poverty is the missing link explaining the increased risk of mortality among children of single mothers. Instead, we contend that limited support from fathers, coupled with isolation from kin and discrimination from neighbors render these children particularly vulnerable.