Inequity and child survival in Bangladesh

Sheikh M. Giashuddin, Jagannath University

The aim of this study is to examine the socioeconomic causes of inequalities in child survival between poor and better-off children. Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) data are used for the study. In this study quintiles were calculated on the basis of household assets and wealth score by use of principle component analysis. The poorest-richest ratio of infant mortality was 1.3 in 1993-4 whereas this ratio was 1.6 in 2004 BDHS indicating that gap between the poor and the rich had widened. This is also supported by the values of Concentration Index (CI). All are significantly different from zero of conventional levels. The absolute value of CI inequalities in child survival increased over time. Multivariate regression analysis confirmed that infants and child mortality of poorest quintile had significantly higher risk of childhood death than the richest quintile. Due to existing socioeconomic differentials in Bangladesh, i. e. the poor children are more vulnerable to mortality.