Child mortality estimation: estimating sex differences in childhood mortality since the 1970s.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Producing estimates of infant (under age 1 y), child (age 1-4 y), and under-five (under age 5 y) mortality rates disaggregated by sex is complicated by problems with data quality and availability. Interpretation of sex differences requires nuanced analysis: girls have a biological advantage against many causes of death that may be eroded if they are disadvantaged in access to resources. Earlier studies found that girls in some regions were not experiencing the survival advantage expected at given levels of mortality. In this paper I generate new estimates of sex differences for the 1970s to the 2000s.

Methods and findings

Simple fitting methods were applied to male-to-female ratios of infant and under-five mortality rates from vital registration, surveys, and ce

SUBMITTER: Sawyer CC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3429399 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature