Infant and child mortality in Pakistan—some trends and differentials

Abstract

SummaryData from reproductive histories collected in the Population, Labour Force and Migration Survey of 1979 are used to analyse trends and differentials in infant and child mortality in Pakistan. Comparisons with the Pakistan Fertility Survey findings are also presented. Whereas levels differ substantially across the two surveys, trends and differentials are generally similar. Infant–child mortality seems to have declined until the mid-1960s, stabilized for some years and even risen slightly in the latest period of the two surveys.Neonatal mortality is responsible for a high proportion of deaths under age 1 and is particularly high for first order births and children born to very young or very old mothers. Higher infant and childhood mortality are also related to these factors and also to a shorter preceding birth interval, the early death of the preceding child and sex of the child. Education of mother and residence were also found to be critical determinants of infant and child mortality.