Impact of Health Interventions on Child Mortality in Bangladesh
Author Information
Author(s): Razzaque Abdur, Streatfield Peter Kim, Gwatkin Dave R
Primary Institution: International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh
Hypothesis
Does health intervention improve socioeconomic inequalities of neonatal, infant and child mortality?
Conclusion
Health intervention programs do not reduce the poor-rich gap in child mortality, which may increase initially but could decrease in the long run if the program is intensive.
Supporting Evidence
- The study found that socioeconomic inequalities in child mortality increased over time in both service areas.
- Health interventions had a greater effect on child mortality risks for uneducated mothers compared to those with some education.
- Immunization coverage was significantly higher in the ICDDR,B-service area compared to the government-service area.
Takeaway
The study looked at how health programs affect child deaths in rich and poor families. It found that these programs often help the rich more at first, but might help everyone over time.
Methodology
The study followed four birth cohorts over five years to measure mortality and socioeconomic status using a wealth index based on asset ownership.
Potential Biases
Potential bias exists as health interventions may initially favor wealthier families.
Limitations
The study may not be generalizable beyond the Matlab area due to its specific socioeconomic context.
Participant Demographics
The study involved families from both ICDDR,B-service and government-service areas in Matlab, Bangladesh.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website