SOCIOECONOMIC AND ANTHROPOMETRIC STATUS, AND MORTALITY OF YOUNG-CHILDREN IN RURAL BANGLADESH

This article investigates the interrelationship of socioeconemic statu s, anthropometric status and mortality of young children in rural Bang ladesh, Data for this study come from Matlab, the vital registration a rea of the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangl adesh, where anthropometric and socioeconomic data concerning 1976 chi ldren aged 12-23 months were collected in November-December 1975. From these data, anthropometric indices are created, and the relationships of socioeconomic status measured by dwelling space and anthropometric indices with mortality during the 2 years following measurement of th ese children are investigated. It is found that both socioeconomic sta tus and anthropometric indices are related to mortality. However, the relationship of anthropometric indices is much stronger. Among the ant hropometric indices considered, weight-for-age, height-for-age and arm circumference reflect socioeconomic status better than weight-for-hei ght does; and, the first three indices are equally good, and individua lly better than weight-for-height, as predictors of mortality. The deg ree of the effect of socioeconomic status (dwelling space) on mortalit y explained by the best performing anthropometric index, weight-for-ag e, was not more than 25%. It is concluded that an anthropometric index that can classify socioeconomic status more efficiently is a better p redictor of 2-year mortality than any other anthropometric index.