Anand Krishnan1, N G Nawi, Peter Byass, Chandrakant S Pandav, Suresh K Kapoor. 1. Centre for Community Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India; *Umea Centre for Global Health Research, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umea University, Sweden and #Department of Community Health, St. Stephens Hospital, Delhi, India. Correspondence to: Dr Anand Krishnan, Additional Professor, Centre for Community Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110 029, India. kanandiyer@yahoo.com.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To assess sex-specific differentials in child survival from 1992-2011. METHODS: We analyzed data from the electronic database of Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) site in Ballabgarh in North India. RESULTS: Sex ratio at birth was adverse for girls throughout the study period (821 to 866 girls per 1,000 boys) and was lowest in the period 2004-2006 at 821 girls per 1,000 boys. Overall, under-five mortality rates during the period 1992-2011 remained stagnant due to increasing neonatal mortality rate (9.2 to 27.7 P< 0.001). Mortality rates among girls were consistently and significantly higher than boys during the post-neonatal period (160% to 200% higher) as well as in childhood(160% to 230% higher). CONCLUSIONS: Strategies to address the neonatal mortality and gender differences are required for further reductions in child mortality in India.
OBJECTIVE: To assess sex-specific differentials in child survival from 1992-2011. METHODS: We analyzed data from the electronic database of Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) site in Ballabgarh in North India. RESULTS: Sex ratio at birth was adverse for girls throughout the study period (821 to 866 girls per 1,000 boys) and was lowest in the period 2004-2006 at 821 girls per 1,000 boys. Overall, under-five mortality rates during the period 1992-2011 remained stagnant due to increasing neonatal mortality rate (9.2 to 27.7 P< 0.001). Mortality rates among girls were consistently and significantly higher than boys during the post-neonatal period (160% to 200% higher) as well as in childhood(160% to 230% higher). CONCLUSIONS: Strategies to address the neonatal mortality and gender differences are required for further reductions in child mortality in India.