INFANT-MORTALITY AMONG VARIOUS NATIONALITIES IN THE MIDDLE PART OF GUIZHOU, CHINA

This paper describes infant mortality, leading causes of death, and so me associated factors among the Han, the Miao, the Bouyei and other mi nority nationalities in three counties of the middle part of Guizhou P rovince, China. The results showed that the overall infant mortality r ate (IMR) in these areas was 125.7 per 1000 live births during 1985-19 87. There existed a great disparity in IMR among different nationaliti es. The rate was 103.1 (Ran), 148.8 (Miao), 161.2 (Bouyei) and 145.0 ( other ethnic groups) per 1000 live births, respectively. The five lead ing causes of death in infants were respiratory diseases, neonatal tet anus, birth asphyxia, infectious diseases and diarrhoea. These causes of death combined resulted in an IMR of 104.1 per 1000 live births. Ho wever, these diseases varied in importance for infants of different na tionalities. We considered the relationship between infant death and m aternal and child health care. The location of birth, the kinds of bir th attendants and utilization of health facilities might be associated with differentials of infant mortality among these nationalities. Mat ernal education was associated with infant survival, but it might not be the only factor in decreasing or eliminating the differential of IM R among various nationalities. Based upon the findings, it is urgent t o improve maternal and child health care and investigate further cultu ral and sociological factors among various nationalities. (C) 1997 Els evier Science Ltd.