Ethel Mary Brinda|Anto P. Rajkumar|Ulrika Enemark
Association between gender inequality index and child mortality rates: a cross-national study of 138 countries
Aarhus University|Aarhus University Hospital|Aarhus University
gender inequality weakens maternal health harms children many direct indirect pathways allied biological disadvantage psychosocial adversities challenge survival children genders united nations development programme undp recently developed gender inequality index measure multidimensional nature gender inequality global impact gender inequality index child mortality rates remains uncertainwe employed ecological study investigate association child mortality rates gender inequality indices 138 countries undp published gender inequality index data child mortality rates potential confounders per capita gross domestic product immunization coverage obtained official world health organization world bank sources employed multivariate nonparametric robust regression models study relationship variableswomen low middle income countries lmics suffer significantly gender inequality p 0001 gender inequality index gii positively associated neonatal 5385 95 ci 41616409 infant 7028 95 ci 51938864 five mortality rates 6814 95 ci 49718658 adjusting effects potential confounders p 0001we documented statistically significant positive associations gii child mortality rates results suggest initiatives curtail child mortality rates extend beyond medical interventions prioritize womens rights autonomy discuss major pathways connecting gender inequality child mortality present socioeconomic problems sustain higher gender inequality child mortality lmics discuss potential solutions pertinent lmics dissipating gender barriers focusing social wellbeing women may augment survival children genders