Gender influences on child survival, health and nutrition: a ... - Unicef

<strong>Gender</strong> Influences On Child Survival, Health And Nutrition: A Narrative Review
autonomy were related to
child stunting)
Fantahun, Berhane, Wall,
Byass & Högberg (2006)
“Women’s involvement
in household decisionmaking
and
strengthening social
capital – crucial factors
for child survival in
Egypt”
Butajira, Egypt
Butajira Demographic
Surveillance Site
Prospective casereferent
(control) design with a total
of 209 under-five year old
deaths occurring in an 18
month period plus 627
referents matched for age
sex and community of
residence. This study design
allowed researchers to
follow cases over time.
Household decision-making was evaluated
through a series of questions based on four
areas: major decisions made (to move
residence, rebuild a house, rent land);
everyday household decisions such as the
purchase of food and other items; decisions
about visiting friends and relatives; and
finally decisions about taking a family
member to a health institution
Child mortality was around three times higher in
families where women had less decision-making
power compared to those where women had greater
decision making power.
Hossain, Phillips & Pence
(2006)
“The effect of women’s
status on infant and
child mortality in four
rural areas of
Bangladesh”
Bangladesh (six
sub-districts):
Sirajgonj,
Abhoynagar,
Gopalpur,
Fultala,
Bagherpara and
Keshobpur
The analysis uses data from
the Sample Registration
System (SRS) which has
generated a series of crosssectional
surveys since
1982. The study draws on
data from children born in
six rural thanas (subdistricts)
between 1988 and
1993 (n=7534).
Autonomy index was derived from indicators
such as whether a woman is permitted to
take a sick child to hospital outside her
village alone, to go outside for recreation
and to travel for family planning.
Authority index was constructed from
indicators of the respondent’s decisionmaking
power regarding spending money for
medicine when her child is sick, seeing a
doctor when she is sick, how long a child
should attend school and to whom and at
what age a daughter should be married
Autonomy is significantly negatively associated with
post-neonatal mortality (Rate Ratio = 0.88, chisquared
p< 0.05)
Authority is significantly negatively associated with
post-neonatal mortality (RR = 0.89, p