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Articles · Vol. 21 No. 1 (2017): African Sociological Review · Pages 77-98

Family Structure and Children’s Schooling in sub-Saharan Africa

Vol. 21 · 2017 No. 1 African Sociological Review ASR

Abstract

To examine the effect of family structure on children’s schooling in sub-Saharan Africa, we
employed Multi-level Modeling to analyse data from recent Demographic and Health Surveys
(DHS) in 26 African Countries. In general, both polygyny and presence of a husband in the
home detract from children’s education. After controlling for maternal education, children
of single, never married mothers and those who are divorced or separated have educational
disadvantage, suggesting the importance of maternal education for children’s educational
outcomes. Males are more likely than females to have higher educational attainment, especially
those in polygynous families. It is recommended that female education in general and the
education of the girl-child in particular, be encouraged as a way of discouraging such negative
cultural attitudes and practices as polygyny and bias in favour of boys’ education.

Family Structure and Children’s Schooling in sub-Saharan Africa

Pour examiner l’effet de la structure familiale sur la scolarisation des enfants en Afrique
subsaharienne, nous avons utilisé une modélisation multi-niveaux pour analyser les données
des récentes enquêtes démographiques et sanitaires (DHS) dans 26 pays africains. En général,
la polygynie et la présence d’un mari dans la maison nuisent à l’éducation des enfants. Après avoir contrôlé l’éducation maternelle, les enfants des mères célibataires, jamais mariés et ceux qui
sont divorcés ou séparés ont un désavantage éducatif, ce qui suggère l’importance de l’éducation
maternelle pour les résultats scolaires des enfants. Les hommes sont plus susceptibles que les
femmes d’avoir un niveau de scolarité plus élevé, en particulier ceux des familles polygynes.
Il est recommandé que l’éducation des femmes en général et l’éducation des filles en particulier
soient encouragées afin de décourager de telles attitudes et pratiques culturelles négatives comme
la polygynie et le parti pris en faveur de l’éducation des garçons.

Keywords

Monogamy Polygyny Marital Status Multi-level Regression Patriarchy

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Author Biographies

  • Acheampong Yaw Amoateng

    Research Professor of Sociology and Family Studies and the Director of the Research Focus Area in Population and Health in the Faculty of Humanities Studies, North-West University (Mafikeng Campus). Consulted for such multilateral organizations as the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, the African Union, the World Health Organization and the World Scout Bureau. Nominated by the African Union in 2011 to be part of the Country Mission to Zambia to assess that country under the African Peer Review Programme. Published widely in high-impact national and international journals and has written several chapters in books/monographs. Research focus and interest in and written widely in the area of Adolescent and Youth development in sub-Saharan Africa.

  • Tim B. Heaton

    Department of Sociology, Brigham Young University,
    Provo, Utah, USA.

  • Camille Mcalmont

    Department of Sociology, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA.

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