Infant and child mortality in rural Egypt. A comment.

Abstract

In their interesting analysis of infant and child mortality in rural Egypt, derived from data collected as part of the World Fertility Survey in 1980, Castleline, Cooksey & Ismail (1992) specifically noted the significant differentials in neonatal and early infant mortality which existed between Lower and Upper Egypt. The differentials could not be explained in terms of socioeconomic variables, the household sanitary environment, maternal risk factors or medical institutions and personnel. Conversely, it was suggested that they could be attributed to fundamental though unidentified cultural differences between two regions.