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Paper short abstract

This study highlights the relationship between parental loss and household economic vulnerability among children. Paternal orphans have higher representation in the low vulnerability category, whereas maternal and double orphans are more likely to experience medium to high vulnerability.

Paper long abstract

Household economic vulnerability remains a persistent development challenge in Nigeria, particularly as shocks such as parental loss exacerbate existing socio-economic fragilities. Although prior research in Sub-Saharan Africa documents links between orphanhood and child welfare, the pathways through which parental death translates into broader household economic vulnerability remain insufficiently understood. Drawing on microdata from the 2024 Nigeria Standard Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) with a sample size of 176,045, this study estimates how maternal, paternal, and double orphanhood influence household economic vulnerability. A set of Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) and interaction-effect models were estimated, controlling for socio-demographic characteristics that may shape vulnerability outcomes. Results show that maternal orphanhood increases the likelihood of high household vulnerability by 11.2%, while double orphans experience a 6.4% reduction in the chance of low vulnerability. Gender interactions reveal that male paternal orphans face a 36% higher household vulnerability, female paternal orphans a 22% increase, and male double orphans a 31% increase, highlighting the compounded risks for boys in fatherless households. Household characteristics such as education of the head, urban residence, mobile phone use, and bank account ownership significantly reduce vulnerability. This study makes three unique contributions: (1) it quantifies the gender-differentiated impact of parental death on household economic vulnerability in Nigeria; (2) it highlights the disproportionate economic risk faced by double orphans; and (3) it identifies sociodemographic factors that buffer vulnerability. It is recommended that social protection programs that prioritize orphaned children, especially double orphans and girls should be enacted.