Infant mortality among Indonesian boys and girls: effect of sibling status

Citation
A. Wahab et al., Infant mortality among Indonesian boys and girls: effect of sibling status, ANN TROP PA, 21(1), 2001, pp. 66-71
Citations number
14
Categorie Soggetti
Pediatrics
Journal title
ANNALS OF TROPICAL PAEDIATRICS
ISSN journal
02724936 → ACNP
Volume
21
Issue
1
Year of publication
2001
Pages
66 - 71
Database
ISI
SICI code
0272-4936(200103)21:1<66:IMAIBA>2.0.ZU;2-E
Abstract
The effect of gender and sibling status on the infant mortality rate (IMR) in Purworejo District, Central Java, Indonesia was investigated using direc t estimation of IMR. A cohort of 1,948 infants born between 1 January 1995 and 31 December 1996 was followed for 1 year within a surveillance system. IMR was higher (not significantly) in male infants, and males (but not fema les) had a higher mortality rate if born after more than two siblings. This was significant in the Highland area only. Mothers' education and quality of drinking water had no modifying effect in either sex on the association between IMR and sibling status. Thus, in contrast with studies from South A sia, there are no indications of preferential treatment of infant boys comp ared with infant girls in Central Java.