This study examines factors associated with infant survival in Pakistan. It
uses data from the Pakistan integrated Household Survey 1991, a nationally
representative sample survey of the Government of Pakistan, funded by the
World Bank. The infant mortality rate was still very high in Pakistan until
the early 1990s, at 100 deaths per 1000 live births. The study shows that
there is no evidence of a secular decline in infant mortality during the 19
80s. Large differentials in infant survival by socio-economic Factors and a
ccess to water and sanitation indicate that social and gender inequities ar
e the underlying cause of the stagnation of infant mortality in Pakistan. E
conomic and social policies of earlier decades have resulted in tremendous
disparities in wealth and access to resources in Pakistan. The low social,
economic and legal status of women is intimately tied to the well-being of
their children. Health interventions in Pakistan should be designed to reac
h the most under-served: women and children. Systematic evaluations of heal
th interventions will be necessary to make informed decisions about health
investments in the future. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserv
ed.