Related Experiment Videos
Birth spacing, sibling rivalry and child mortality in India
Alison Whitworth1, Rob Stephenson
1Methodological Division (Room D212), Office for National Statistics, 1 Drummond Gate, London SW1V 2QQ, UK. alison.whitworth@ons.gsi.gov.uk
Social Science & Medicine (1982)
|November 1, 2002
Summary
Short birth intervals (<18 months) increase infant mortality risk in India, especially in the early post-neonatal period. Maternal education and sibling survival significantly modify this risk.
Area of Science:
- Demography
- Public Health
- Child Survival
Background:
- Short preceding birth intervals are linked to higher infant and early childhood mortality.
- The specific pathways influencing this relationship require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the impact of preceding birth interval length on under-two mortality in India.
- To identify the pathways through which short birth intervals increase mortality risk.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the 1992 Indian National Family Health Survey data.
- Employed a multilevel modeling approach to analyze neonatal, early post-neonatal, and late post-neonatal/toddler mortality.
- Investigated determinants of infants born after short or long birth intervals.
Main Results:
- Short preceding birth intervals (<18 months) are associated with increased mortality across all three age groups, most notably in the early post-neonatal period.
- Significant interactions were observed between birth interval length and maternal education, child's gender, and previous sibling's survival status.
- Higher maternal education was found to dilute the mortality risk associated with short birth intervals.
Conclusions:
- Short birth intervals pose a significant mortality risk for children under two in India.
- Sibling rivalry and competition for resources may be key pathways linking short birth intervals to mortality.
- Interventions targeting maternal education and support for families facing high parity or young mothers could mitigate risks.