Trends in socioeconomic inequalities in mortality in developing countries: the case of child survival in São Paulo, Brazil.
I examined trends in socioeconomic inequalities in under-five mortality for the state of São Paulo, Brazil, over a 21-year period from 1970 to 1991, during which much of the mortality transition unfolded. During this time, there was a decline in inequality in under-five mortality by household wealth but a substantial increase by mother's education. Improvements in infrastructure and economic development were associated with lower levels of socioeconomic inequality in under-five mortality. Mother's education emerged as the key factor underlying socioeconomic inequalities in under-five mortality even as levels of education for women increased and inequality in schooling fell.
RAND Corporation, 1700 Main Street, PO Box 2138, Santa Monica, CA 90407-2138, USA. sastry@rand.org
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D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003906:Developing Countries; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D007223:Infant; D007226:Infant Mortality / Q000639:trends*; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education; D010298:Parity; D012423:Rural Health / Q000639:trends; D012923:Social Class; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014504:Urban Health / Q000639:trends