A Reflection on Child and Infant Mortality in Selected South Asian Countries

Objectives: This study aims to explore the infant and child mortality rates in relation to (i) a range of conventional covariates including household characteristics, literacy rates, cultural and social factors, treatment method, mother’s history like preceding birth interval between children & multiple births and provision of facilities like electricity, safe water and sanitation etc. (ii) some policy variables like health facilities related to cesarean section and women empowerment related to health which is a very nascent concept in public health literature. Methods: The study design is cross-sectional which exploits the latest Demographic Health Surveys from the selected South Asian countries including Pakistan (2012), Bangladesh (2011) India (2012) and Nepal (2011). The Cox’s proportional hazard model is used to establish the factors that affect the infant and child mortality. Conclusion: The results of the study support the argument of health interventions in the region that should be designed to reach the most undeserved: women and children. More specifically, we recommend particular focus on better cesarean section method of delivery and women empowerment in health related issues.