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Effect of birth spacing on infant and child mortality in rural Nepal

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 July 2008

Bhakta B. Gubhaju
Bhakta B. Gubhaju
Affiliation:
Nepal Family Planning and Maternal Child Health Project, Kathmandu, Nepal
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Summary

This examination of the effect of birth spacing on infant and child mortality in rural Nepal is based on data from the Nepal Fertility Survey 1976 carried out by the Nepal Family Planning and Maternal Child Health Project in collaboration with the World Fertility Survey. The study confirms that the higher risk of infant death to first-born children is mainly due to the higher proportions of younger women having first births, rather than due to their being first order births per se. The effect of maternal age on infant and child mortality is largely associated with birth interval. Previous birth interval, therefore, stands out as the most important factor affecting infant mortality; the next most important factor is the survival of the preceding child.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Biosocial Science , Volume 18 , Issue 4 , October 1986 , pp. 435 - 447
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1986

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