Child Mortality, Women's Status, Economic Dependency, and State Strength: A Cross-National Study of Less Developed Countries

Abstract

Many cross-national studies of child mortality emphasize predictors linked to industrialism theory; a smaller number consider those linked to dependency theory. This study introduces two new perspectives to the analysis of cross-national differences in child mortality rates: developmental state theory andgender stratification theory. Panel regression (1960 to 1991) and LISREL models are used with a sample of 86 less developed countries. Wefind thatforeign investment and debt dependency have adverse indirect effects on child mortality. These effects are mediated by variables linked to industrialism theory and gender stratification theory. Women's education, health, and reproductive autonomy all play roles as mediating variables as does rate of economic growth. State strength has a substantial beneficial direct effect on child mortality rate. Child mortality rate, for children under age 5, is one of the best indicators of the physical well-being of children in less developed countries (LDCs), and it is also considered one of best indicators of social development more generally (UNICEF 1989). Comparative sociologists have long been interested in the relationship between indicators of social and economic development associated with industrialism theory and a variety of mortality-related