Is Discrimination in Food Really Necessary for Explaining Sex Differentials in Childhood Mortality?

Abstract

In this paper the assumption is questioned that it is the intra-household distribution of food which is an important cause of the observed sex differences in childhood mortality in much of South Asia. An analysis of data from a recent field study as well as a fresh look at information from secondary sources, leads to the conclusion that, at present, the causal link from malnutrition to mortality is ambiguous at best. Other possible real-world determinants of sex differences in mortality are examined and it is found that differential utilisation of modern health care is probably an important such determinant. Finally some of the socio-economic influences on sex discrimination in health care are examined and a case is presented for increasing women's employment outside the home.