Open AccessCorrelates of Child Mortality in Pakistan: A Hazards Model Analysis
Author(s) -
James A. Bennett
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
pakistan development review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.154
H-Index - 26
ISSN - 0030-9729
DOI - 10.30541/v38i1pp.85-118
Subject(s) - socioeconomic status , child mortality , demography , birth order , population , demographic analysis , infant mortality , developing country , environmental health , medicine , developed country , economics , economic growth , sociology
This study investigated factors associated with childmortality in an area in Rawalpindi, one of the large cities of Pakistan.Using both demographic and anthropological methods, the research wasconducted to specifically examine the processes and mechanisms whereby alink is established between child mortality and its covariates.Controlling for the socio-economic status as a determinant of childmortality, the study population was limited to a lower income stratumliving in a homogeneous environment where all households had equalaccess to health-related and other facilities. Results of theproportional hazards model analysis on 130I index children suggest thatnon-economic factors like maternal health-seeking behaviour were relatedto high child mortality. The cultural norm of bearing a large number ofchildren was the most significant correlate. In order of significance,this was followed by contraceptive use, current age of the mother, ageat marriage and the hygienic conditions of the household. The studyprovides strong evidence of familial clustering of mortality by order ofthe household.