Socio-economic Inequality in Under-Five Child Mortality: A Statistical Approach to Determine Development Edge in Bangladesh

Abstract

Socio-economic inequality in under-five child mortality (U5CM) is one of the crucial predicaments for the human development of
Bangladesh. The objective of the study is to assess and quantify the magnitude of socioeconomic inequalities in U5CM and vaccination
coverage in Bangladesh. The study utilized data from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Surveys,2007 (BDHS 2007) that contains
information on 6058 live births among which 339 children died before reaching age five and compared it with BDHS 2004 data to identify
the inequality scenario over the study period . Two inequality measures were used: poorest-richest ratio and concentration index. Analysis
on socio-economic inequalities revealed that under-five children of poorest class were 46 percent more likely to die than those of the richest
class. Inequality also existed in vaccination status, in poorest class which was 1.31 times lower compared with richest class. The figures
were better than those of 2004(67% and 2.3 times lower respectively). In conclusion, this study showed a clear mortality gradient across
socioeconomic classes, although these inequalities improved in 2007 in comparison with 2004. Appropriate interventions that could
produce rapid gains in child survival may trim down the existing socio-economic inequalities.