title: The determinants of child mortality in the Philippines: estimation of a structural model.
abstract: "This paper employs a longitudinal data set from the Philippines to estimate a structural model of the determinants of infant mortality. To control for the endogeneity of some explanatory variables, a set of reduced form equations for these outcomes is estimated simultaneously with the mortality hazard. A non-parametric discrete factor method is used to control for common unobservable factors in the error terms.  Birth interval and parity lose explanatory power once biological measures are considered in the model. The results indicate significant correlations across the equations' error terms. The significant effects of breastfeeding and growth on mortality are quantified in simulation experiments." The data are from a longitudinal survey conducted in metropolitan Cebu between 1983 and 1986.
mesh_terms: D001208:Asia; D001210:Asia, Southeastern; D001695:Biology; D001721:Birth Intervals; D001723:Birth Rate; D001942:Breast Feeding; D002657:Child Development; D003710:Demography; D003906:Developing Countries; D005298:Fertility; D006128:Growth; D006262:Health; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009026:Mortality; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D010298:Parity; D010679:Philippines; D011153:Population; D011154:Population Characteristics; D011157:Population Dynamics; D012106:Research
keywords: Asia; Biological Characteristics; Biology; Birth Intervals; Breast Feeding; Child Development; Child Mortality; Demographic Factors; Developing Countries; Fertility; Fertility Measurements; Growth; Health; Infant Mortality; Infant Nutrition; Models, Theoretical; Mortality; Nutrition; Parity; Philippines; Population; Population Dynamics; Research Methodology; Southeastern Asia