Family Structure and Child Malnutrition in China: Three Essays — China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS)

Citation:

He, Wei. (2013). Family Structure and Child Malnutrition in China: Three Essays. Master's thesis / Doctoral dissertation, Duke University.

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Abstract:

Over the past three decades, the co-existence of overweight and underweight has characterized the phenomenon of children's health in China. As the primary institution for a child, family is an opportune place for child malnutrition intervention. By advancing a framework that addresses the contextual factors which shape the heterogeneity of socioeconomic gradients of child overweight/obesity, this dissertation has sought to understand the channels through which access to family resources influences child overweight/obesity in China. Based on these developed understandings, I identified the mechanisms by which having any younger siblings and three generation living together or in proximity affect child malnutrition in China. Using data drawn from the China Health and Nutrition Survey, this dissertation uncovered remarkable differences in multiple levels of contextual factors that shape a child's risk of overweight/obesity and underweight in China as compared to Western society. China's stage of economic development and the ever-increasing wealth disparity have created a growing socioeconomic gap in child overweight/obesity, especially after 1997. This finding confirmed the position of the Ecological System framework that access to obesogenic environment is much more important than willpower based on knowledge in shaping one's obesity-related risk behavior. Despite the tremendous economic growth and the dramatic decrease in fertility level, resource dilution effect on basic nutrition intake still existed among girls, especially for those exposed to poverty and food insecurity. Children in the care of grandparents are healthier, probably due to the generally low degree of access to obesogenic foods and a closer intergenerational relationship that facilitates effective communication and promotes healthy lifestyle formation.

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Reference Type:
THES

Secondary Title:

Series Title:

Author(s):
He, Wei

Editor(s):

Series Author(s):
James, Sherman A. Merli M. Giovanna

Year Published:
2013

Date Published:

Journal Name:

Volume Number:
3559323

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Start Page Number:
189

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Series Volume:

Publisher:
Duke University

City of Publication:
Ann Arbor

ISSN/ISBN:
9781303043437

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Reference ID:
1905

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