The implications of female household headship for food consumption and nutritional status in the Dominican Republic

Abstract

Female control of household resources is often associated with consumption preferences which favor basic needs and child welfare. Using data from the Dominican Republic, this study tests differences in spending patterns, consumption preferences, and child nutritional (anthropometric) status according to four definitions of female household headship. Female-headed households (FHH) allocate the same amount or less of their budgets to food than male-headed households (MHH), in absolute and proportional terms. FHH consume higher quality, more expensive and protein-dense foods (more animal products; less of beans and rice) than MHH. Average caloric adequacy per adult-equivalent is equal or lower in FHH, but children's anthropometric status is the same or higher; it is significantly higher in low-income FHH, possibly due to intrahousehold allocation of food which favors children.