Maternal chronic ill health negatively affects child survival in a poor rural population of Pakistan
Document Type
Article
Department
Community Health Sciences
Abstract
Pakistan ranks fourth globally in terms of absolute numbers of under-5 deaths. Although several determinants of child deaths have been identified, the possibility of an association between mother's health and under-5 deaths has not been assessed in Pakistan. We compared data on 106 deceased children 0-59 months old with those on 3718 live children, using a cross-sectional survey of 2276 households among 99 randomly selected villages in Thatta, a rural district of Pakistan. We examined the association between self-reported maternal health status and under-5 deaths, using the SUDAAN statistical package to account for cluster sampling technique. Three models for logistic regression analysis were Model-1: demographic factors, Model-2: household socio-economic factors and Model-3: demographic and household socio-economic factors. Mothers of deceased children were 60% more likely to report chronic illnesses than mothers of live children after controlling for child's age, mother's age and type of house (final Model-3 analysis) (adjusted odds ratio [aOR; 95% confidence interval]: 1.6 [1.01, 2.5]). The association of self-reported maternal ill health with under-5 deaths in Thatta suggests the role of maternal health in child survival. Child survival strategies should include screening and treating mothers for common chronic illnesses. This is particularly important in a setting where only a quarter of chronically ill mothers seek care outside the home.
Publication (Name of Journal)
World Health and Population
Recommended Citation
Nuruddin, R.,
Kin, L. M.,
Hadden, W. C.,
Azam, I.
(2007). Maternal chronic ill health negatively affects child survival in a poor rural population of Pakistan. World Health and Population, 9(3), 27-35.
Available at:
https://ecommons.aku.edu/pakistan_fhs_mc_chs_chs/515