Inequality of Opportunity Among Egyptian Children

Ersado, Lire ; Aran, Meltem

World Bank Group, Washington, DC

关键词: ACCESS TO EDUCATION;    ACCESS TO HEALTH SERVICES;    ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE;    ACUTE MALNUTRITION;    ADEQUATE NUTRITION;   

DOI  :  10.1596/1813-9450-7026
RP-ID  :  WPS7026

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: World Bank Open Knowledge Repository

【 摘 要 】

This paper analyzes the level and trendsin inequality of opportunity among Egyptian children duringthe 2000s. The analysis uses severall tools, includingcomparison of the distributions of early risks and outcomesacross circumstance groups; estimation of the humanopportunity index; measurement of the relative contributionsof circumstances to inequality of opportunity; anddecomposition of changes in inequality of opportunity andfactors driving them over time. Egypt has made significantprogress in the availability of and access to basic servicesfor children and mothers, in some cases with an overallpro-poor effect. In particular, appreciable improvementshave been made in healthcare utilization before and duringpregnancy and immunizations. As a result, there has been adecline in inequality of opportunity over the past decade,largely attributable to increased coverage by basic servicesrather than through redistributive effects. However, thereare areas of persistent and emerging concerns, includingpostnatal care utilization, nutrition, and schooling.Nutrition indicators have deteriorated during the 2000s,affecting a quarter of children regardless of theircircumstances. Wide disparities in school enrollmentpersist, notably at the higher levels. Large regionaldisparities in access to basic infrastructure exist, withUpper Egypt and the Frontier Governorates lagging the restof the country.Family background, especially parents'education and wealth, and geographic factors are key factorsaffecting child development outcomes in Egypt. Whileinterventions targeted at the less advantaged circumstancegroups may offer significant potential for enhancing overallequity in postnatal care utilization and schooling, a moreinclusive approach would be needed to improve childnutrition outcomes.