Infant and Child Mortality in the Developing World: Information from the World Fertility Survey

Abstract

Infant mortality rates vary widely among countries participating in the World Fertility Survey (WFS); the rates range from 33 deaths per 1000 live births in Panama and Portugal to 162 in the Yemen Arab Republic. This article uses the results of many WFS studies to provide an overview of levels trends and differentials of infant and child mortality in the developing world. African and Asian countries tend to have higher levels of infant and child mortality than Latin American nations. In many cases infant mortality rates determined from WFS data are lower than the US Census Bureau rates estimated indirectly. Results of the WFS show that 1) overall neonatal mortality accounts for about 1/2 of all infant deaths; 2) infant mortality accounts for anywhere from 60% to 90% of the under age 5 mortality in most countries; 3) in some countries an unreasonably small share of infant deaths take place in the 1st month; 4) the majority of countries surveyed show some evidence of long-term declines in mortality; and 5) 5 demographic factors--the sex of the child maternal age at the time of childbirth birth order the occurrence of multiple births and the previous birth interval--are important predictors of child survival. Especially significant is the birth interval; when an infant is born within 2 years of another child both children are at greater risk of dying. Socioeconomic factors such as womans area of residence and mothers level of education also have an impact on the risk of mortality among infants and older children in many developing countries. Over the long term the reduction of inequalities in educational and employment opportunities will have by far the greatest impact on infant and child mortality and morbidity.