EARLY CHILD HEALTH IN LAHORE, PAKISTAN .3. MATERNAL AND FAMILY SITUATION

The family situation for mothers, in three areas differing in degree o f urbanization and an upper middle class control group, in Lahore, Pak istan was described. Area differences in 'socio-economic, family compo sition, and housing and sanitary conditions were investigated. Data fr om a longitudinal sample (n = 1476 newborns) were compared with data f rom a cross-sectional population survey (n=2998 families). Risk factor s for child mortality and morbidity were common in the village and per iurban slum area; conditions were somewhat better in the urban slum co mmunity. The sample was concluded to be representative of the populati on in the three areas and also for Pakistan in general. Two indices fo r cross-study comparisons were proposed, one for socio-economic backgr ound and the other for housing standard. The two indices were shown to be related to maternal weight for height at 9 months of pregnancy in the urban slum area; the socio-economic level was also functionally re lated to the weight for height measure in the village. The lower socio -economic and housing standard level, the lower was the mothers' relat ive weight just before childbirth. The findings were discussed in term s of risk factors for infant mortality, morbidity and psychological de velopment.