Advanced Techniques for Modelling Maternal and Child Health in Africa

Abstract

In recent decades, there has been a rapid development of demographic models and methods and an explosive growth in the range of applications of population analysis. This series seeks to provide a publication outlet both for high-quality textual and expository books on modern techniques of demographic analysis and for works that present exemplary applications of such techniques to various aspects of population analysis.Topics appropriate for the series include:• General demographic methods This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. Exempted from this legal reservation are brief excerpts in connection with reviews or scholarly analysis or material supplied specifically for the purpose of being entered and executed on a computer system, for exclusive use by the purchaser of the work. Duplication of this publication or parts thereof is permitted only under the provisions of the Copyright Law of the Publisher's location, in its current version, and permission for use must always be obtained from Springer. Permissions for use may be obtained through RightsLink at the Copyright Clearance Center. Violations are liable to prosecution under the respective Copyright Law. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. While the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication, neither the authors nor the editors nor the publisher can accept any legal responsibility for any errors or omissions that may be made. The publisher makes no warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein.Printed on acid-free paper SummaryThe estimation of levels, trends, and differentials in demographic and health outcomes in developing countries has, over the years, relied heavily on indirect methods that were devised to suit limited or deficient data. In recent decades, some worldwide surveys like the World Fertility Survey and its successor, the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS), have played an important role in filling the gap in the availability of survey data in developing countries. These surveys, conducted at enormous costs, are aimed at enabling investigators to make in-depth analyses that could guide policy intervention strategies. However, their utilization remains suboptimal, because optimal analyses of such data demand advanced statistical techniques.Since the use of DHS data in developing countries, many develop...