Influence of parental literacy and socio-economic status on infant mortality.

Rao, R S; Chakladar, B K; Nair, N S; Kutty, P R; Acharya, D; Bhat, V; Chandrasekhar, S; Rodrigues, V C; Kumar, P; Nagaraj, K; Prasad, K N; Krishnan, L

Influence of parental literacy and socio-economic status on infant mortality.

Date

1996-11-01

Authors

Abstract

The influence of parental literacy and socio-economic status (SES) on infant mortality rate (IMR) was studied. This report is only a part of much larger community-based prospective study conducted to determine the factors influencing infant mortality in Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka, by the Department of Community Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, with the financial assistance form IDRC, Canada. A total of 12,857 livebirths during the period of October 1, 1991, to September 30, 1992, where registered and followed up for one year. There were 391 infant deaths which gives an IMR of 30.4 per 1,000 livebirths. Univariate analysis and subsequent stepwise multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that, literacy and SES have a very significant role in reducing IMR.

Citation

Rao RS, Chakladar BK, Nair NS, Kutty PR, Acharya D, Bhat V, Chandrasekhar S, Rodrigues VC, Kumar P, Nagaraj K, Prasad KN, Krishnan L. Influence of parental literacy and socio-economic status on infant mortality. Indian Journal of Pediatrics. 1996 Nov-Dec; 63(6): 795-800