Mother's employment and infant and child mortality in India

Abstract

A multivariate analysis of births during the four years before the NFHS shows that mortality rates are higher for children age 12-47 months if their mothers are employed. Mortality is higher for children age 0-11 months if their mothers are employed at home or outside the home for cash. Mother's employment has a greater adverse effect on the mortality of sons than of daughters.

The NFHS Subject Reports is a series summarizing secondary analysis of data from the 1992-93 National Family Health Survey (NFHS) in India. The NFHS collected information from nearly 90,000 Indian women on a range of demographic and health topics. Conducted under the auspices of the Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the survey provides national and state-level estimates of fertility, infant and child mortality, family planning practice, maternal and child health, and the utilization of services available to mothers and children. IIPS conducted the survey in cooperation with consulting organizations and 18 population research centers throughout India. The East-West Center and a U.S.-based consulting firm, Macro International, provided technical assistance, and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) provided financial support.

Printed copies are available from the East-West Center Research Program, Population and Health Studies. Single copies are available free by airmail and may be reproduced for educational use.