Inégalités devant la mort en bas âge au Pérou

Abstract

The principal aim of this paper is to analyze the relationship between social disparities and infant mortality. This research is based on the secondary analysis of the official data concerning socioeconomic and mortality rates for the end of the 1960's and for the mid of 1990's. The infant mortality rate is twice higher amongst the Andean population, particularly true for those living in the South of the Andes, than the average population. In contrast, the babies born in Lima metropolitan area benefit a probability of survival in their first year of life twice higher than the typical Peruvian new born. These inequalities are the result of social exclusion that restrict participation in economic, cultural and political institutions to different social groups in Peruvian society. Illiteracy and distribution of income play a decisive role in the increase of infant mortality rates.