Inequalities in child health in Bolivia: Has Morales made a difference?

Abstract

Objectives: This paper examines social inequality in children’s health following the election of Evo Morales. Bolivia is marked by dramatic socioeconomic, ethnic and geographic inequality in children’s health. The Morales government initiated several public health reforms designed to provide more equal access to public health services. Methods: Analysis was conducted using Bolivia Demographic and Health Survey data from 2003 to 2008. Results: The analysis shows some improvements in children’s health. However, inequality in access to doctors, child mortality and child nutritional status did not diminish. In contrast, inequalities in immunization declined dramatically. Conclusions: Results suggest that aspects of health that are easier to implement such as immunization are more accessible to public policy than are more complex health problems like malnutrition and high child mortality.

Keywords:

• child health
• inequalities
• Bolivia
• malnutrition
• Morales