Dynamiques familiales et santé des enfants : perspectives longitudinales en Afrique de l'Ouest

In the past, African family are mostly considered as a stable institution. However, presently, the African family is a changing institution where the composition and structure are largely affected by the life trajectories caused by economic, sociopolitical and demographic dynamics. In a context where the family unit is the only institution that ensures well-being because of the lack of an efficient social security system and the insufficiency of public health services, these perturbations have an influence on the family’s ability to provide care to its most vulnerable members, especially children and the elderly. This thesis on family dynamics and child health in West Africa examines the consequences of this permanent family instability. Based on a longitudinal approach using data from five Health and Demographic surveillance systems located in Burkina Faso (Ouagadougou and Nanoro), Senegal (Niakhar and Mlomp) and The Gambia (Farafenni), it revisits the family environment from the children’s point of view and examines its influence on health via immunization and under 5 mortality.