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Infant mortality differentials in an Indian setting: follow-up of hospital deliveries

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 July 2008

J. N. Srivastava  and
D. N. Saksena
J. N. Srivastava
Affiliation:
Population Research Centre, Department of Economics, Lucknow University, India
D. N. Saksena
Affiliation:
Population Research Centre, Department of Economics, Lucknow University, India
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Summary

Using data collected through follow-up home visits to a sample of mothers, whose singleton babies were born at the Dufferin Hospital, Lucknow, September 1976—August 1977, estimates are made of infant mortality in Lucknow city, and its differentials by socioeconomic, demographic and health care characteristics of the infants and their families. Infant mortality was 74·5 per 1000 births during the year 1976–77 and there is evidence of some recent decline in it.

Among socioeconomic factors considered, infant mortality is found to be inversely related with caste status among Hindus, education of mother, father's monthly income, and father's occupation. Infant mortality exhibits a J-shaped distribution in relation to maternal age and parity and a reversed J-shaped distribution in relation to maternal age at marriage. Among health and health care factors, antenatal care of the mother appears to exercise a negative influence on infant mortality, which also shows a marked negative relationship with birth weight and feeding index of the child. The findings suggest important policy implications, which, if followed, would help to reduce infant mortality, and would thus remove a serious obstacle in the way of acceptance of the small family norm and its achievement through the adoption of family planning.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Biosocial Science , Volume 13 , Issue 4 , October 1981 , pp. 467 - 478
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1981

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