Population and Development

Research Programmes

Ongoing research programmes:

Impact of reproductive health services on socio-economic development in sub-saharan Africa: connecting evidence at macro, meso and micro-level

Main applicant: Prof. dr. Ruerd Ruben (Radboud University Nijmegen, Centre for International Development Issues Nijmegen (CIDIN), the Netherlands)
Co-applicant: Prof. dr. Switbert Kamazima (Muhimbili University College of Health Science –MUHAS-, Institute of Public Health, Tanzania)
Collaborating researchers: Dr. Phares Mujinja (MUHAS Health economics, Tanzania); Prof.dr. Gideon Kwesigabo (MUHAS, Public health); Dr. Rob Baltussen (UMC Radboud, Netherlands); Dr. Jeroen Smits (NICE / Radboud University, Netherlands)
External experts involved: Prof. dr. Gabriel Mwaluko (TANESA (ngo), Tanzania); Lilian Kakwesigabo, MSc (TANSWED, Tanzania); Dr. Henk Rolink (World Population Foundation, Netherlands); Dr. Joseph Semboja (REPOA, Tanzania)
Project researchers: to be determined
Country in which the research is executed: Tanzania
Running time: 01-10-2008 tot 30-09-2011

Projects within the programme:

  • District reproductive health investments and poverty reduction in 32 Sub-Saharan African countries (PhD-project)
  • Estimating the impact of reproductive health services on social and economic variables in Tanzania on the basis of Kagera Health and Development Survey panel data (PhD-project)
  • P/RH Impact on investment incentives and risk attitudes (PhD-project)
  • Micro-macro simulation and policy impact of P/RH programs (post-doc project)
  • Comparative impact assessment of multiple RHS channels (post-doc project)

Summary of the programme:
Whereas knowledge regarding the operational design of reproductive health services is increasingly available, its impact on social and economic development is still poorly understood. This project analyzes the relationships and interactions between reproductive health and poverty at individual/household, community and district level, relying on three datasets. Special attention is given to the likelihood of RH shocks and the impact of availability and use of various types of reproductive health services on (changes in) assets and investment behaviour. The research relies on enriched DHS Surveys and WB-LSMS panel data on individuals/households with differential reproductive health service use and practices, followed by detailed assessment of the likelihood of changes in wealth status (assets, investments and risk attitudes). Additional experimental research is carried out among respondents of the WB-LSMS panel. The combined analyses provide new insights in how specific reproductive health services can reduce poverty incidence, and generate evidence-based policy and programme recommendations.

Breaking the cycle: reproductive health and poverty decline in Rwanda

Main applicant: Prof. dr. Pieter Hooimeijer (Utrecht University, the Netherlands)
Co-applicant: Prof. dr. Herman Musahara (National University of Rwanda)
Collaborating researchers: Dr. Annelet Broekhuis (Utrecht University, Netherlands); Dr. Tugrul Temel (Tilburg University, Netherlands)
External experts involved: Prof. dr. Kimani Murungaru (University of Nairobi, Kenya); Prof.dr. Leo van Wissen (University of Groningen, Netherlands)
Project researchers: to be determined
Country in which the research is executed: Rwanda
Running time: 01-11-2008 tot 31-10-2011

Projects within the programme:

  • Reducing excess fertility by relieving constraints (PhD-project)
  • Infant mortality, birth intervals and ideal family size (PhD-project)
  • Family size, income surplus and quality of life (PhD-project)
  • Economy-wide effects of investment in Reproductive Health and Family Planning (post-doc project)
  • The demographic consequences of conflict and mass-migration (PhD-project)

Summary of the programme:
Despite a high level of economic growth, population growth in Rwanda is still outpacing the rate of poverty reduction. To create the required surplus of capital and labour needed for investments in (human) capital to arrive at economic development, the cycle of decreasing agricultural productivity, high population growth and increasing poverty will have to be broken. Reproductive health could be a key mechanism to break this cycle by addressing the high level of unmet needs for family planning and the high level of infant and child mortality. The central hypothesis is that reproductive health policies can bring down these levels in the short run and will create the surplus at the Household level to invest in the health and education of the children. The feedback effects on the cost-recovery of public services will contribute to the required surplus at the national level, enabling the country to collect the 'demographic bonus'.