Socio-demographic correlates of infant and childhood mortality
Mahadevan, K.; Murthy, M.S.; Reddy, P.R.; Reddy, P.J.; Gowri, V.; Sivaraju, S.
Rural Demography 12(1-2): 21-40
1985
ISSN/ISBN: 1010-3783 PMID: 12280830 Document Number: 425121
The influence of selected demographic and socioeconomic variables on infant and child mortality (1979 data) among 3 cultural groups -- Muslims, Harijans, and Caste Hindus -- in the rural Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh state in the South Central Region of India are analysed. Infant mortality was high throughout Andhra Pradesh, but it was higher among Muslims and Harijans (82.6/1000 and 82/8/1000 live births) than among Caste Hindus (63.25). The demographic variables examined were: age at marriage, age, number of conceptions, number of living children, and birth intervals. All except age at marriage and number of living children affected the 3 groups uniformly. Child mortality among the Harijans reflected the adverse effect of early marriage, and the large number of living children had and adverse effect on both infant and child mortality among the Muslims. Regression analysis also showed the high correlation of birth order to both infant and child mortality and of number of living children to childhood mortality. The socioeconomic values considered were economic status, education, occupation, family structure, type of marriage, and type of residence (in terms of ventilation). Economically, Caste Hindus were best off; educational status was lowest among the Harijans. Occupationally, most Caste Hindus were farmers; Muslims were businessmen; and Harijans were laborers. More Harijan women and children under 14 worked for wages as agricultural laborers. From the point of view of infant mortality, family income correlated negatively among the Harijans but positively among Muslims and Caste Hindus; occupation of husband correlated very negatively for Harijans and Muslims. Type of house and household size were negatively correlated for the Harijans but were not significant for the others. Correlations for childhood mortality were similar to those for infant mortality for most variables, but among Muslims education of husband and type of family correlated negatively and type of marriage positively. Socioeconomic factors in general were more important than culture or religion in their influence on infant and child mortality.