title: Socio-biological factors in underfive deaths in a rural area.
abstract: In 1985-86, 286 underfive deaths occurred among a population of 30,000 in a rural area of Haryana. Two hundred and eighty one were analysed for socio-biological factors related to under five mortality. Females had a higher mortality. About 2/3 of the deaths were in infants, and 90% in first 3 years. Most of the deaths (94%) occurred in the village itself, 58.4% did not seek any medical care during the terminal illness, 80-90% did not receive even a single dose of BCG, DPT or O.P.V., and 36.7% died in the first attack of illness. Though 68% had at least one episode earlier, 31.0% had been admitted in hospitals for an earlier episode of illness. In 42.8% of deaths, the birth order was IV or above. Deaths in socially and economically disadvantaged cases constituted 77.6%. The triad of diarrhea, ARI and malnutrition claimed 56% deaths. In 93% of the deaths, the mothers were illiterate and 96.4% were house wives. There was a sibling death earlier in the family in 78.3%, and 60.1% deaths were of those living in poor housing conditions. About 50% had radio for communication, 85.8% had bicycle for conveyance, and in 66.9% the family had piped water supply. All these findings have been discussed in the study.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Community Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.
authors.forename: V P
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Reddaiah
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Kapoor
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D015984:Causality; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D007194:India; D007223:Infant; D007226:Infant Mortality; D008297:Male; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000401:mortality*; D012424:Rural Population; D012737:Sex Factors; D012931:Social Environment; D014881:Water Supply