Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-rcrh6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-26T07:20:24.408Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Maternal schooling and childhood mortality

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 September 2011

John Cleland  and
Jerome van Ginneken
John Cleland
Affiliation:
ISI Research Centre, Voorburg
Jerome van Ginneken
Affiliation:
Netherlands Institute of Preventive Health Care, TNO, Leiden, Netherlands
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

There is nothing new about the belief that the spread of education with its influence on knowledge and outlook is a central force behind the demographic transition. In 1934 Penrose wrote: ‘when a community has gained the knowledge and acquired the habits necessary to reduce the death rate it will sooner or later gain the knowledge and acquire the habits necessary to reduce the birth rate. There may be time lag between the two processes, but both of them in a large share are the outcome of education’ (Penrose, 1934). It is thus surprising that investigation of the specific influence of parental education on the mortality of children in developing countries was neglected until Caldwell's (1979) analysis of survey data from Ibadan, Nigeria, which demonstrated that mother's education was a more decisive determinant of child survival than other family characteristics such as husband's occupation and education. Other studies followed this influential investigation. The greater contribution to mortality decline of educational advance compared to health care provision, it has been argued, is a contribution to the development versus medical technology debate (Mosley, 1985). Inevitably the beginnings of a counter-reaction may be discerned. Caldwell (1986) stressed that the influence of education should not be considered in isolation from the wider context, while Cooksey et al. (1986, unpublished) consider that the effect of maternal education may have been exaggerated.

Type
Factors affecting mortality
Information
Journal of Biosocial Science , Volume 21 , supplement S10: Health Interventions and Mortality Change in Developing Countries , 1989 , pp. 13 - 34
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1989

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Al-Kabir, A. (1984) Effects of Community Factors on Infant and Child Mortality in Rural Bangladesh. WFS Scientific Report No. 56, International Statistical Institute, Voorburg.Google Scholar
Anker, R. & Knowles, J. C. (1979) An Empirical Analysis of Mortality Differentials at the Macro and Micro Levels. Working Paper No. 60. International Labour Organisation, Geneva.Google Scholar
Antonovsky, A. (1980) Implications of socio-economic differentials in mortality for the health system. In: Proceedings of the Meeting on Socio-Economic Determinants and Consequences of Mortality, pp. 483–502. United Nations, New York.Google Scholar
Bairage, R. (1986) Food crisis, nutrition and female children in rural Bangladesh. Popul. Dev. Rev. 12, 307.Google Scholar
Bannister, J. (1986) China: Recent Trends in Health and Mortality. Staff Paper No. 23, Center for International Research, US Bureau of the Census, Washington, DC.Google Scholar
Becker, S., Black, R. E., Brown, K. H. & Nahar, S. (1986) Relations between socioeconomic status and mortality, food intake and growth in young children in two villages in Bangladesh. Ecol. Food Nutr. 18, 251.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Behm, H. (1980) Socio-economic determinants of mortality in Latin America. In: Proceedings of the Meeting on Socio-Economic Determinants and Consequences of Mortality. United Nations and World Health Organization, New York and Geneva.Google Scholar
Belcher, D. W., Nicolas, D. D., Ofusu-Amaah, S. & Wurapa, F. K. (1978) A mass immunization campaign in rural Ghana. Publ. Hlth Rep. 93, 170.Google Scholar
Benyousshf, A. & Wessen, A. F. (1974) Utilization of health services in developing countries—Tunisia. Social Sci. Med. 8, 287.Google Scholar
Bhuiya, A., Wojtyniak, B., D'Souza, S. & Zimicki, S. (1986) Socio-economic determinants of child nutritional status: boys versus girls. Food Nutr. Bull. 8, 3.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Borja, E. M. (1985) Faclores Determinantes de una Mortalidad Prematura en Ecuador. WFS Scientific Report No. 74, International Statistical Institute, Voorburg.Google Scholar
Boss, D. & Shapiro, S. (1982) Direct and indirect associations of five factors with infant mortality. Am.J. Epidemiol. 115, 78.Google Scholar
Brown, J., Djogdom, P., Murphy, K., Kesseng, G. & Heymann, D. (1982) Identifying the reasons for low immunization coverage, a case study in Yaounde (Cameroon). Rev. Epidém. et Santé Publique, 30, 35.Google Scholar
Caldwell, J. C. (1979) Education as a factor in mortality decline: an examination of Nigerian data. Popul. Stud. 33, 395.Google Scholar
Caldwell, J. C. (1986) Routes to low mortality in poor countries. Popul. Dev. Rev. 12, 171.Google Scholar
Caldwell, J. C. & Caldwell, P. (1985) Education and literacy as factors in health. In: Good Health at Low Cost. Edited by Halstead, S. B., Walsh, J. A. & Warren, K. S.. Rockefeller Foundation, New York.Google Scholar
Caldwell, J. C., Reddy, P. H. & Caldwell, P. (1983) The social component of mortality decline: an investigation in South India employing alternative methodologies. Popul. Stud. 37, 185.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Chowdhury, A. K. M. A. (1982) Education and infant survival in rural Bangladesh. Health Policy and Education, 2, 369.Google Scholar
Cochrane, S. H., O'Hara, D. J. & Leslie, J. (1980) The Effects of Education on Health. World Bank Staff Working Paper No. 405, Washington, DC.Google Scholar
Das Gupta, M. (1987) Selective discrimination against female children in rural Punjab, India. Popul. Dev. Rev. 13, 77.Google Scholar
Da Vanzo, J. W. P., Butz, W. P. & Habicht, J. P. (1983) How biological and behavioural influences on mortality in Malaysia vary during the first year of life. Popul. Stud. 31, 381.Google Scholar
D'Souza, S. & Bhuiya, A. (1982) Mortality differentials in rural Bangladesh. Popul. Dev. Rev. 8, 753.Google Scholar
Dyson, T. & Moore, M. (1983) On kinship structure, female autonomy and demographic behaviour in India. Popul. Dev. Rev. 9, 35.Google Scholar
Ebanks, G. (1985) Infant and child mortality and fertility: Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and Jamaica. WFS Scientific Report No. 75, International Statistical Institute, Voorburg.Google Scholar
Entwistle, B., Mason, W. M. & Hermalin, A. J. (1986) The multilevel dependence of contraceptive use in socio-economic development and family planning program strength. Demography, 23, 199.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ewbank, D., Henin, R. & Kekovole, J. (1986) An integration of demographic and epidemiologic research on mortality in Kenya. In: Determinants of Mortality Changes and Differentials in Developing Countries. Population Studies No. 94. United Nations, New York.Google Scholar
Farah, A. A. & Preston, S. (1982) Child mortality differentials in Sudan. Popul. Dev. Rev. 8, 365.Google Scholar
Fosu, G. B. (1981) Disease classification in rural Ghana: framework and consequences for health behaviour. Social Sci. Med. 158, 471.Google Scholar
Frenzen, P. & Hogan, D. (1982) The impact of class, education and health care on infant mortality in a developing society. Demography, 19, 391.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Friede, A., Waternaux, C., Guyer, B., de Jesus, A. & Filipp, L. (1985) An epidemiological assessment of immunization programme participation in the Philippines. Int. J. Epidemiol. 14, 135.Google Scholar
Goldberg, H. I., Rodriques, W., Thome, A. M. T., Janowitz, B. & Morris, L. (1984) Infant mortality and breastfeeding in north-eastern Brazil. Popul. Stud. 38, 105.Google Scholar
Haines, M. R. & Avery, R. C. (1982) Differential infant and child mortality in Costa Rica: 1968–1973. Popul. Stud. 36, 31.Google Scholar
Halstead, S. B., Walsh, J. A. & Warren, K. S. (Eds) (1985) Good Health at Low Cost. Rockefeller Foundation, New York.Google Scholar
Hanbaly, N. & Callum, C. (1987) Levels, trends and correlates of mortality. In: Reproductive Patterns in Syria. Edited by Farid, S. & Alloush, K.. International Statistical Institute, Voorburg.Google Scholar
Hobcraft, J. N., McDonald, J. W. & Rutstein, S. O. (1984) Socioeconomic factors in infant and child mortality, a cross national comparison. Popul. Stud. 38, 193.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hobcraft, J. N., McDonald, J. W. & Rutstein, S. O. (1985) Demographic determinants of infant and early child mortality: a comparative analysis. Popul. Stud. 39, 363.Google Scholar
Jain, A. K. (1985) Determinants of regional variations in infant mortality. Popul. Stud. 39, 407.Google Scholar
Khan, M. (1982) Interruption of Shigellosis by hand washing. Trans. R. Soc. trop. Hyg. 76, 164.Google Scholar
Khan, M. E., Anker, R. & Dastidas, S. K. G. (1985) Accessibility to health and family planning services in rural Uttar Pradesh. In: Micro-approaches to the Assessment of the Demographic Impact of Development Activities. IUSSP, Liège.Google Scholar
Kune, J. B. (1980) Some factors influencing the mortality of under-fives in a rural area of Kenya, a multivariate analysis. J. trop. Pediat. 26, 114.Google Scholar
Levine, A., Levine, S., Richman, A. & Sunderland, Correa C. (1987) Schooling and Maternal Behaviour in a Mexican City: The Effects on Fertility and Child Survival. Fertility Determinants Research Notes, No. 16, Population Council, New York.Google Scholar
Lindenbaum, S., Chakrabooty, M. & Elias, M. (1985) The Influence of Maternal Education on Infant and Child Mortality in Bangladesh. International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Dhaka.Google Scholar
Maclean, V. (1974) Magical Medicine, a Nigerian Case Study. Penguin, London.Google Scholar
Maina-Ahlberg, B. (1984) Beliefs and practices related to measles and acute diarrhoea. In: Maternal and Child Health in Rural Kenya: An Epidemiological Study, pp. 323–331. Edited by van Ginneken, J. K. & Muller, A. S.. Croom Helm, Beckenham.Google Scholar
M'Backe, C. & van de Walle, E. (1987) Socioeconomic factors and access to health services as determinants of child mortality. In: Mortality and Society in Sub-Saharan Africa, Yaounde. IUSSP, Liège.Google Scholar
McLaren, D. S. (1982) The home environment of the malnourished-deprived child. Health Policy and Education, 2, 91.Google Scholar
Meegama, S. A. (1980) Socio-economic Determinants of Infant and Child Mortality in Sri Lanka: An Analysis of Post- War Experience. WFS Scientific Report No. 8, International Statistical Institute, Voorburg.Google Scholar
Merrick, T. W. (1985) The effect of piped water on early childhood mortality in urban Brazil 1970 to 1976. Demography, 22, 1.Google Scholar
Ministry of Home Affairs (1983) Survey on Infant and Child Mortality, 1979. New Delhi, India.Google Scholar
Mosley, W. (1985) Will primary health care reduce infant and child mortality. In: Health Policy, Social Policy and Mortality Prospects, pp. 103–137. Edited by Vallin, J. & Lopez, A. D.. IUSSP, Liège.Google Scholar
Mosley, W. H. & Chen, L. (1984) An analytical framework for the study of child survival in developing countries. Popul. Dev. Rev. 10 (supplement), 25.Google Scholar
Okediji, F. O. (1975) Socio-economic status and attitudes to public health problems in the western state: a case study of Ibadan. In: Population Growth and Socio-Economic Change in West Africa, pp. 275–297. Edited by Caldwell, J. C. et al. Colombia University Press, New York.Google Scholar
Orubuloye, I. O. & Caldwell, J. C. (1975) The impact of public health services on mortality: a study of mortality differentials in a rural area of Nigeria. Popul. Stud. 29, 259.Google Scholar
Palloni, A. (1981) Mortality in Latin America: emerging patterns. Popul. Dev. Rev. 7, 623.Google Scholar
Palloni, A. (1985) Health conditions in Latin America and policies for mortality change. In: Health Policy, Social Policy and Mortality Prospects, pp. 465–492. Edited by Vallin, J. & Lopez, A. D.. IUSSP, Liège.Google Scholar
Palloni, A. & Millman, S. (1986) Effects of inter-birth intervals and breast-feeding on infant and early childhood mortality. Popul. Stud. 40, 215.Google Scholar
Pebley, A. R. & Stupp, P. W. (1987) Reproductive patterns and child mortality in Guatemala. Demography, 24, 43.Google Scholar
Penrose, E. F. (1934) Population Theories and their Application with Special Reference to Japan, pp. 119–20. Food Research Institute, Stanford University.Google Scholar
Preston, S. H. (1985) Resources, knowledge and child mortality: a comparison of the U.S. in the late nineteenth century and developing countries today. In: International Population Conference, Florence 1985, Vol. 4, pp. 373–386. IUSSP, Liège.Google Scholar
Rosenzweig, M. R. & Schultz, T. P. (1982) Child mortality and fertility in Colombia: individual and community effects. Health Policy and Education, 2, 305.Google Scholar
Rosero-Bixby, L. (1985) The case of Costa Rica. In: Health Policy, Social Policy and Mortality Prospects. Edited by Vallin, J. & Lopez, A.. IUSSP, Liège.Google Scholar
Rutstein, S. O. (1984) Socio-economic Differentials in Infant and Child Mortality. WFS Comparative Studies, International Statistical Institute, Voorburg.Google Scholar
Schultz, T. P. (1980) Interpretation of relations among mortality, economics of the household and the health environment. In: Proceedings of the Meeting on Socio-Economic Determinants and Consequences of Mortality. United Nations and World Health Organization, New York and Geneva.Google Scholar
Schultz, T. P. (1985) Household economic and community variables as determinants of mortality. In: International Population Conference, Florence, Vol. 2, pp. 225–236. IUSSP, Liège.Google Scholar
Singh, S. & Ferry, B. (1984) Biological and Traditional Factors that Influence Fertility: Results from WFS Surveys. WFS Comparative Studies No. 40, International Statistical Institute, Voorburg.Google Scholar
Srinivasan, K., Kanitkar, T., Ahmed, V. & Saraagi, L. (1985) Report on the Baseline Survey on Fertility, Mortality and Related Factors in Orissa. International Institute for Population Sciences, Bombay.Google Scholar
Sullivan, J. M. (1975) The influence of demographic and socio-economic factors on infant mortality in Taiwan, 1966–168. Academia Economic Papers, 31, 35.Google Scholar
Szabady, E. (1963) Social and biological factors affecting infant mortality in Hungary. In: International Population Conference, New York, 1961, p. 768. IUSSP, Liège.Google Scholar
Tekçe, B. & Shorter, F. C. (1984) Determinants of child mortality: a study of squatter settlements in Jordan. Popul. Dev. Rev. 10 (supplement), 257.Google Scholar
United Nations (1985) Socio-Economic Differentials in Child Mortality in Developing Countries. Department of Social and Economic Affairs, UN, New York.Google Scholar
Victora, C. G., Smith, P. G. & Vaughan, S. P. (1986) Social and environmental influences on child mortality in Brazil: logistic regression analysis of data from census files. J. biosoc. Sci. 18, 87.Google Scholar
Ware, H. (1984) Effects of maternal education, women's roles and child care on child mortality. Popul. Dev. Rev. 10 (supplement), 191.Google Scholar
Yang, S. & Dowdle, N. B. (1985) Trends and levels of mortality in China. International Symposium on China's One-per-Thousand Population Sampling Survey. China Population Information Centre, Beijing.Google Scholar
Young, F. W., Edmonston, B. & Andes, N. (1983) Community level determinants of infant and child mortality in Peru. Social Indicators Research, 12, (1).Google Scholar