Determinants of Neonatal and Post-neonatal Mortality in Pakistan

Abstract

Ensuring the survival and well being of children is a concern of families, communities and nations throughout the world. Since the turn of the 20th century infant and child mortality in more developed countries has steadily declined and, currently, has been reduced to almost minimal levels. In contrast, although infant and child mortality has declined in the past three decades in most less developed countries, the pace of change and the magnitude of improvement vary considerably from one country to another. The inverse relationship between socio-economic variables of the parents and infant and child mortality is well established by several studies [Muhuri (1995); Forste (1994); Hobcraft, et al. (1984); Caldwell (1979); Sathar (1985, 1987)] and it holds true irrespective of the overall level of mortality in the national populations [Ruzicka (1989)]. The influence of parental education on infant and child health and mortality has proved to be universally significant [Bicego and Boerma (1993); Caldwell, et al. (1990)]. The father’s education, mother’s education and their work status each have independent effects upon child survival in developing countries [Sandiford, et al. (1995); Forste (1994); Caldwell, et al. (1983)]. Economic conditions of the household also help in explaining the variation in infant and child mortality. The nature of housing, diet, access to and availability of water and sanitary conditions as well as medical attention all depend on the economic conditions of the household. For example, poor families may reside in crowded, unhygienic housing and, thus, suffer from infectious disease associated with inadequate and contaminated water supplies and with poor sanitation [Esrey and Habicht (1986)].

Regional variation in neonatal and post-neonatal mortality in Kenya

“…These results are empirical evidence of the beneficial effects of antenatal care. These results are consistent with those found in Pakistan (Mahmood, 2002). Similarly, the type of place of delivery had significant net effects on both neonatal and post-neonatal mortality.…”

“…In demographic literature several social and biological determinants of infant and child mortality are well documented (Hobcraft, et al 1984, Hobcraft, 1993Caldwell, 1979;Ikamari, 1996, 2002, Mustafa and Odimegwu, 2008Chowdhury et al 2010. For instance, the influence of parental education on infant and child health and mortality has proved to be universally significant (Bicego and Boerma, 1991;Caldwell, et al 1990).…”

The effect of health facility delivery on neonatal mortality: systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Six studies, a case control study in Iran [22], secondary data analysis from Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) in Pakistan [23], RCT in Nepal [24], secondary data analysis in Bangladesh [25], case control study in Zimbabwe [26], and population based retrospective study in Haryana, India [27] were excluded because they did not have enough information for the meta-analysis, i.e., the number of total live births and number of neonatal deaths were not separately indicated and compared for facility delivery and home delivery.…”

Risk Factors of Neonatal Mortality in Bangladesh

“…Many researchers such as Mahmood 25 and later on Titaley and his colleagues 6 adapted the conceptual framework proposed by Mosley and Chen 26 with some modifi cations based on the limitations and structure of the DHS data. Keeping in view the aforementioned frameworks, this study considered the "survival status" of children as the outcome variable.…”