Religious Differences in Child Vaccination Rates in Urban Africa: Comparison of Population Surveillance Data from Ouagadougou; Burkina Faso

ABSTRACT

Many studies have shown a significant relationship between religion and health in Western countries. In developing countries; however; there is a dearth of scientific studies on the matter. Using data from the Ouagadougou Health and Demographic Surveillance System; this paper examines religious differences in child vaccination rates in five districts of Ouagadougou; Burkina Faso. It tests the applicability of the selectivity hypothesis; which holds that religious differences in health come from underlying differences in the socioeconomic and demographic composition of religious communities. In our study population; even when socioeconomic and demographic characteristics are taken into account; an effect of religion on child vaccination rates was observed. This suggests that religious disparities in child vaccination rates are not solely due to the makeup of different religious communities; but also to ideological differences and/or to diffusion effects from interactions within religious groups. The religious differences demonstrated here suggest that a greater emphasis should be put on community-based approaches involving religious leaders when addressing health disparities