Socioeconomic Determinants of Child Mortality (Under Age One): Reported by Mothers of Reproductive Age in Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract

The future of a nation lies in the hands of its children. Health of children should be the first priority of a nation. It is an indicator of social and economic development. Pakistan falls among high child mortality rate countries. The aim of this paper is to assess the socioeconomic determinants of child mortality in the Punjab. For this purpose, the study obtains data from Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (2014), conducted by Punjab Bureau of statistics. The data were collected with the help of well-designed three questionnaires from 38,405 households of Punjab. The STATA is used to apply Logistic model to determine the factors affecting child mortality. The dependent variable is dichotomous in nature based on this question "Have you ever given birth to a boy or girl who was born alive but later died?" and response is either yes or no. According to the empirical results of the study, area of residence, source of drinking water, women ever attended school and their level of education, women media awareness, women smoking and wealth quintiles are important socioeconomic determinants of child mortality. But comparatively, wealth quintiles have greater influence on reducing child mortality. The study suggests some policies to improve the situation, e.g., allocation of more budget for health, initiative of health care programs for women and infant, particularly in rural areas of Punjab.