Gender differentials and old age survival in the Nairobi slums, Kenya

Bennett, Rachel ORCID: 0000-0002-5780-8786, Chepngeno-Langat, Gloria, Evandrou, Maria and Falkingham, Jane (2016) Gender differentials and old age survival in the Nairobi slums, Kenya. Social Science and Medicine, 163. pp. 107-116. doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2016.07.002

Preview

Text (Final Published Version - Open Access) Gender differentials.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution 4.0. Download (313kB) | Preview

Abstract

This paper examines gender differentials in survival amongst older people (50+ years) in the Nairobi slums and to the best of our knowledge is the first study of its kind in an urban African setting. The results provide evidence contrary to the expected paradox of poorer self-rated health yet better survival amongst older women. Older women in the Nairobi slums have poorer self-rated health and poorer circumstances across other factors, including disability and socio-economic status. Further, older women in the slums do not have better survival. The conventional female advantage in mortality only becomes apparent after accounting for the cumulative influence of individual characteristics, social networks, health and socio-economic status, suggesting the female advantage in unadjusted old-age mortality does not apply to contexts where women experience significant disadvantage across multiple life domains. This highlights the urgent need to redress the support, status and opportunities available for women across the life course in contexts such as the Nairobi slums. In addition, a greater number of factors differentiate mortality risk amongst men than amongst women, suggesting inequality amongst slum dwelling older men and highlighting the need for gender sensitive interventions which account for the particular needs of both genders in old age.

Item Type:	Article
Article Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Kenya; Slums; Gender; Old age survival; Ageing; REF2021
Related URLs:	Publisher
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > G Geography (General)
Divisions:	Schools and Research Institutes > School of Education and Science
Research Priority Areas:	Place, Environment and Community
Depositing User:	Anne Pengelly
Date Deposited:	12 Jul 2016 10:03
Last Modified:	31 Aug 2023 08:58
URI:	https://eprints.glos.ac.uk/id/eprint/3708

University Staff: Request a correction | Repository Editors: Update this record