| Association between Maternal Education and Childhood Mortalities in Myanmar |
| Authors: |
Khaing Soe, Paula Holland, and Ceu Mateus |
| Source: |
Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health, 31(8): 689-700; DOI: 10.1177/1010539519888299 |
| Topic(s): |
Childhood mortality
Education
Infant mortality
Maternal health
Neonatal mortality
|
| Country: |
Asia
Myanmar
|
| Published: |
NOV 2019 |
| Abstract: |
Maternal education is widely regarded as a core social determinant of child mortality in low-income countries. In Myanmar, the evidence related to context-specific social determinants of health including maternal education is scarce, limiting grounds to advocate for a comprehensive health policy. Employing multivariate methods, the study analyzed the 2015-2016 Demographic Health Survey data exploring independent effect of maternal education on neonatal, infant, and under-5 mortality. The study found that maternal education was not significantly associated with neonatal mortality as its effect was confounded by household wealth and geographic residence; however, it had independent effect on infant and under-5 mortality. Mothers with primary education had 23% reduction in the odds of under-5 mortality (P < .001); those with secondary level had 40% reduction (P < .001); and those at higher level had 62% reduction (P < .001). The study concluded that maternal education is a critical social determinant of childhood mortalities in Myanmar.
Keywords: child mortality; education status; infant mortality; literacy; maternal education; neonatal mortality; under-5 mortality. |
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