Studies on factors of low birth weight in Malawi have neglected the flexible approach of using smooth functions for some covariates in models. Such flexible approach reveals detailed relationship of covariates with the response. The study aimed at investigating risk factors of low birth weight in Malawi by assuming a flexible approach for continuous covariates and geographical random effect. A ...

AIMS To assess the association of social determinants on the performance of health systems around the world. METHODS A transnational ecological study was conducted with an observation level focused on the country. In order to research on the strength of the association between the annual maternal and child mortality in 154 countries and social determinants: corruption, democratization, income...

What do the half-century decline in U.S. marriage and the attendant rise in single parenthood mean for the economic well-being of children, especially children living in single-parent families? Adam Thomas and Isabel Sawhill show how differing living arrangements can be expected to affect families' economic well-being. Married-parent and cohabiting households, for example, can benefit from econ...

Using high-quality longitudinal data on 125,720 singleton live births in Matlab, Bangladesh, we assessed the effects of duration of intervals between pregnancy outcomes on infant and child mortality and how these effects vary over subperiods of infancy and childhood and by the type of outcome that began the interval. Controlling for other correlates of infant and child mortality, we find that s...

Abstract: The differentials and determinants of breastfeeding (BF) were studied by a number of socioeconomic and demographic characteristics of mother and child in Bagladesh. The data for this study were taken from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 1996-1997. Information on BF was taken from the mothers following the last birth (n=4972) (current status) and last but one birth (n= 185...

In an effort to increase the use of prenatal care by pregnant women and the utilization of medical care by children, eligibility for Medicaid was expanded dramatically for pregnant women and children during the 1980s and early 1990s. By lowering the costs of prenatal care, delivery, and child health care for some individuals, Medicaid expansions may prompt some women to give birth who otherwise...

A new baby is the beginning of wonders, hopes and dreams and becoming parents is one of life’s greatest blessings. A parent’s dream of giving birth to the perfect child but the birth of a child with congenital heart disease challenges those dreams. This forces families to deal with a crisis for which they may be completely unprepared. Discovering one’s child has a disability causes major stress...

This paper analyzes changes in child care arrangements of a sample of children from the Youth Cohort of the National Longitudinal Surveys over the first three years of life. The analysis indicates that turnover in child care arrangements is surprisingly low among this sample and is more common among families of higher socioeconomic status. Child care turnover is positively correlated with mothe...

OBJECTIVE To assess the effectiveness of care provided by mid-level health workers. METHODS Experimental and observational studies comparing mid-level health workers and higher level health workers were identified by a systematic review of the scientific literature. The quality of the evidence was assessed using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation criteria and da...