Title: Consumer demand and household production: the relationship between fertility and child mortality.

POPLINE Document Number: 016605

Author(s):

Rosenzweig MR
Schultz TP

Source citation:

American Economic Review, 1983 May;73(2):38-42.

Abstract:

Forces which link biological and behavioral factors to infant mortality and fertility in the United States are examined. Estimates can be arrived at if all of the important types of behavior affecting infant survival, prices and income constraints facing households are diligently gathered. Using equations to determine the relationship between a family health endowment index in conjunction with a child's health, information about optimal prenatal and postnatal behavior can be estimated and observed. This estimate which is strongly a factor of parental and environmental health related factors attempts to characterize the biological effects of parents' behavior on birthweight, gestation and the rate of fetal growth. Another estimate presented is one which establishes a link between biological effects of birth order on infant mortality. In this analysis, factors such as medical care during pregnancy, mother's rate of smoking, mother's age, duration of breastfeeding, mother's race and child's sex were included. Household socioeconomic and health data were also estimated in order to understand state and county ability to provide adequate health facilities for pre and postnatal maternal care. In particular, results suggest that child mortality declines in developed countries, and that mother's seek prenatal medical care in early stages of their pregnancy when risk is anticipated. Further study of the differential pattern of black and white fertility behavior in regard to seeking medical care is warranted.

Keywords:

Infant Mortality
Socioeconomic Factors
Child Mortality
Fertility
Birth Rate
Demographic Factors
United States
Biological Characteristics
Psychosocial Factors
Age Factors
Sex Factors
Households
Time Factors
Population Characteristics
Research Report
Birth Order
Antenatal Care
Breastfeeding
Demographic Analysis
Birth Weight
Fetus
Maternal Nutrition
Growth
Correlation Studies
Tobacco Use and Abuse
Maternal Age
Blacks
Whites
Mortality
Population Dynamics
Population
Economic Factors
Fertility Measurements
Developed Countries
North America
Americas
Biology
Behavior
Family and Household
Family Relationships
Family Characteristics
Maternal Health Services
Maternal-Child Health Services
Primary Health Care
Health Services
Delivery of Health Care
Health
Infant Nutrition
Nutrition
Research Methodology
Body Weight
Physiology
Pregnancy
Reproduction
Child Development
Statistical Studies
Studies
Parental Age
Ethnic Groups
Cultural Background