Agent-based modelling for rethinking the socioeconomic determinants of child health in sub-Saharan Africa
Authors & affiliation
Carine Van Malderen, Hedwig Deconinck, Niko Speybroeck, Jean-Christophe Chiem
Abstract
Socioeconomic factors play distal roles in shaping populations’ health. In sub-Saharan Africa, these structural health determinants are strongly associated with intermediate determinants of under-5 mortality such as lifestyle factors, health seeking behaviour, or exposure to a health threat. The aim of the study was to use simulation tools for rethinking the dynamics between socioeconomic factors, preventive health measures, and child health. An agent-based model was developed, consisting of rules and equations based on data from four Demographic and Health Surveys conducted in sub-Saharan countries. The model, visualizing the impact of different factors and complex effects, enhanced the understanding and debate on causal pathways of socioeconomic inequalities in under-5 mortality.
Related publications
Katrina Perehudoff, Heleen Vermandere, Alex Williams, Sergio Bautista-Arredondo, Elien De Paepe, Sonia Dias, Ana Gama, Ines Keygnaert, Adhemar Longatto-Filho, Jose Ortiz, Elizaveta Padalko, Rui Manuel Reis, Nathalie Vanderheijden, Bernardo Vega, Bo Verberckmoes, Olivier Degomme
2022 Older European adults and access to healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemicYushan Yu, Mirko Petrovic, Wei Hong Zhang
2015 Male partners' involvement in prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission in sub-Saharan Africa : a systematic reviewRosa Marlene Manjate, Khátia Munguambe, Nafissa Bique Osman, Olivier Degomme, Marleen Temmerman, Mohsin M Sidat