Intergenerational transfer of health inequalities : exploration of mechanisms in the Birth to Twenty cohort in South Africa

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dc.contributor.authorVon Fintel, Dieteren_ZA
dc.contributor.authorRichter, Lindaen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2021-07-30T12:58:13Z
dc.date.available2021-07-30T12:58:13Z
dc.date.issued2019
dc.descriptionCITATION: Von Fintel, D. & Richter, L. 2019. Intergenerational transfer of health inequalities : exploration of mechanisms in the Birth to Twenty cohort in South Africa. BMJ Global Health, 4(5):e001828, doi:10.1136/bmjgh-2019-001828.
dc.descriptionThe original publication is available at https://gh.bmj.com
dc.description.abstractSouth Africa’s history of colonialism and Apartheid contributed to its extreme levels of inequality. Twenty-five years after the transition to democracy, socio-economic and health inequalities continue to rank among the highest in the world. The Birth to Twenty+ study follows a cohort born in urban Johannesburg in 1990 through their early lives and into young adulthood. Also known as ‘Mandela’s Children’, these ‘children of the ‘90s’ were the first generation to be raised in a democratic society, whose elected government implemented policies to achieve greater socio-economic and health equality. Correlating early life outcomes to those of their parents provides a baseline estimate of intergenerational transmission of historical inequality. Analyses of their early life course indicates the potential breakdown in inequality in the first generation. This paper provides an overview of empirical results on intergenerational change in socio-economic status and health during South Africa’s political transition. Access to infrastructural services improved, and poverty reduced following the rapid expansion of unconditional cash transfers mainly to children and pensioners. However, unemployment remained high and job discrimination continued. Inequalities in health follow similar patterns, and progress did not equate to convergence. Some catch-up physical growth occurred—both across groups and over time—but not sufficient to bridge cognitive inequalities. Socio-economic and health inequalities continued as the children of the ‘90s reached young adulthood. Based on knowledge of other transitions, it is likely that these inequalities will only start to break down in later generations, provided social and economic progress holds steady.en_ZA
dc.description.urihttps://gh.bmj.com/content/4/5/e001828
dc.description.versionPublisher's version
dc.format.extent6 pages
dc.identifier.citationVon Fintel, D. & Richter, L. 2019. Intergenerational transfer of health inequalities : exploration of mechanisms in the Birth to Twenty cohort in South Africa. BMJ Global Health, 4(5):e001828, doi:10.1136/bmjgh-2019-001828
dc.identifier.issn2059-7908 (online)
dc.identifier.otherdoi:10.1136/bmjgh-2019-001828
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/110791
dc.language.isoen_ZAen_ZA
dc.publisherBMJ
dc.rights.holderAuthors retain copyright
dc.subjectApartheid -- South Africaen_ZA
dc.subjectSouth Africa -- Socioeconomic status -- 20th centuryen_ZA
dc.subjectChildren -- South Africa -- Longitudinal studiesen_ZA
dc.subjectChild development -- South Africaen_ZA
dc.subjectLife cycle, Human -- Case studiesen_ZA
dc.subjectIntergenerational relations -- South Africaen_ZA
dc.subjectChildren – Health and hygiene – South Africa
dc.subjectSouth Africa – Medical statistics
dc.subjectHealth care surveys – South Africa
dc.titleIntergenerational transfer of health inequalities : exploration of mechanisms in the Birth to Twenty cohort in South Africaen_ZA
dc.typeArticleen_ZA
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