CHILD-MORTALITY, WOMENS STATUS, ECONOMIC DEPENDENCY, AND STATE STRENGTH - A CROSS-NATIONAL-STUDY OF LESS-DEVELOPED-COUNTRIES

Many cross-national studies of child mortality emphasize predictors li nked to industrialism theory; a smaller number consider those linked t o dependency theory. This study introduces two new perspectives to the analysis of cross-national differences in child mortality rates: deve lopmental state theory and gender stratification theory. Panel regress ion (1960 to 1991) and LISREL models are used with a sample of 86 less developed countries. We find that foreign investment and debt depende ncy have adverse indirect effects on child mortality. These effects ar e mediated by variables linked to industrialism theory and gender stra tification theory. Women's education health, and reproductive autonomy all play roles as mediating variables as does rate of economic growth . State strength has a substantial beneficial direct effect on child m ortality rate.