This paper analyses the distinction in effects between parental death and parental absence on child stunting and hunger, by investigating regional inequalities in these outcomes in relation to the geography of parental absence, and in relation to the geography of single orphanhood. In addition, the spatial distribution of cash transfers is used to investigate the effect of public and private cash transfers on the health of children who are orphaned or have absent parents. We find that children without fathers, either due to death or absence, are more at risk of being vulnerable to stunting and/or hunger relative to all other children.