Biological and behavioral influences on the mortality of Malaysian infants

Such data, derived from questionnaires administered during the 1976-77 Malaysian Family Life Survey (MFLS), are analyzed in this report to determine the key biological, family, and social characteristics influencing infant survival and the changing importance of these influences during the infant"s first year of life. A linear probability model estimated by ordinary least squares is used to analyze data on maternal age and education, socioeconomic class, birth spacing, prior reproductive loss, and available health services; and on infant"s sex, birthweight, birth order, breastfeeding, and type of weaning. Included in the analyses are proxies for exposure to respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases, and measures of the mother"s availability for child care, household composition, child"s year of birth, ethnicity, and rurality. For purposes of comparison, logit estimates are also shown. Discussion of the relation between infant feeding and infant mortality yields the conclusion that the importance of breastfeeding is less than usually thought, and declines in communities with piped water and toilets. A discussion of the study"s research, program, and policy implications concludes the report. Appended is a 52-item bibliography (1965-82).