The effect of women's status on infant and child mortality in four rural areas of Bangladesh.
Journal Article (Journal Article)
In South Asia women are often the primary decision-makers regarding child health care, family health and nutrition. This paper examines the proposition that constraints on women's status adversely affect the survival of their children. Survey data are used to construct indices of women's household autonomy and authority, which are then linked to longitudinal data on survival of their children. Proportional hazard models indicate that enhanced autonomy significantly decreases post-neonatal mortality. Enhanced household authority significantly decreases child mortality. A simulation based on estimated effects of eliminating gender inequality suggests that achieving complete gender equality could reduce child mortality by nearly fifty per cent and post-neonatal mortality by one-third.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Hossain, MB; Phillips, JF; Pence, B
Published Date
- May 2007
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 39 / 3
Start / End Page
- 355 - 366
PubMed ID
- 16824255
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
- 0021-9320
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1017/S002193200600143X
Language
- eng
Conference Location
- England