Successfull PhD defense for Emmanuel Idohou on under-5 mortality

On September 30th, 2024, Emmanuel Idohou successfully defended his PhD on “Under-5 mortality in a migratory context: the case of France and Belgium”. Congratulations Emmanuel!!

Abstract

In immigration countries, the integration of immigrants is an ongoing debate. The health of immigrants and their children born in the host country emerges as an indicator to better understand their integration. This doctoral thesis contributes to the ongoing debate on immigrant integration by focusing on under-5 mortality in France and Belgium. It investigates the gap in under-5 mortality based on the migratory origins of the father, mother, or both, combined with other characteristics such as parental naturalisation. Using data from various sources (censuses, civil registries, population registers, and permanent demographic samples) around several analysis methods, including decomposition methods, survival analysis and the propensity score method, this doctoral research enhances the literature on the health of second-generation immigrants.

At the end of this manuscript, several major findings emerge: excess under-5 mortality among immigrants in general, which is common to both countries but higher in France, and significant mortality disparity linked to paternal origin in Belgium, where regional and provincial differences were observed. While the excess mortality observed among the children of immigrants from sub-Saharan Africa and North Africa is common to both countries, there are some contrasts, particularly in the trends in under-5 mortality gaps. In France, the trend is upwards, while in Belgium it is downwards. These under-5 mortality inequalities represent a paradox in both contexts, which are characterized by very low infant mortality rates and among the best healthcare systems in the world. This highlights the need to continue policies aimed at reducing inequalities and to implement targeted health policies for vulnerable immigrant groups and specific regions, particularly in Flanders.

In summary, this thesis highlights the father’s role in the child’s health and supports the theories of the fundamental causes of health and cumulative disadvantage, while relativising the theories of the effect of discrimination, integration and social capital.