Female literacy rate is a better predictor of birth rate and infant mortality rate in India
Background: Educated women are known to take informed reproductive and healthcare decisions. These result in population stabilization and better infant care reflected by lower birth rates and infant mortality rates (IMRs), respectively. Materials and Methods: Our objective was to study the relations...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2013-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.jfmpc.com/article.asp?issn=2249-4863;year=2013;volume=2;issue=4;spage=349;epage=353;aulast=Saurabh |
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| author | Suman Saurabh Sonali Sarkar Dhruv K Pandey |
| author_facet | Suman Saurabh Sonali Sarkar Dhruv K Pandey |
| author_sort | Suman Saurabh |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Educated women are known to take informed reproductive and healthcare decisions. These result in population stabilization and better infant care reflected by lower birth rates and infant mortality rates (IMRs), respectively. Materials and Methods: Our objective was to study the relationship of male and female literacy rates with crude birth rates (CBRs) and IMRs of the states and union territories (UTs) of India. The data were analyzed using linear regression. CBR and IMR were taken as the dependent variables; while the overall literacy rates, male, and female literacy rates were the independent variables. Results: CBRs were inversely related to literacy rates (slope parameter = -0.402, P < 0.001). On multiple linear regression with male and female literacy rates, a significant inverse relationship emerged between female literacy rate and CBR (slope = -0.363, P < 0.001), while male literacy rate was not significantly related to CBR (P = 0.674). IMR of the states were also inversely related to their literacy rates (slope = -1.254, P < 0.001). Multiple linear regression revealed a significant inverse relationship between IMR and female literacy (slope = -0.816, P = 0.031), whereas male literacy rate was not significantly related (P = 0.630). Conclusion: Female literacy is relatively highly important for both population stabilization and better infant health. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T23:24:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-dd3f39e9094b4efaa6b0044e76778fde |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2249-4863 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T23:24:33Z |
| publishDate | 2013-01-01 |
| publisher | Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care |
| spelling | doaj.art-dd3f39e9094b4efaa6b0044e76778fde2022-12-22T01:29:37ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsJournal of Family Medicine and Primary Care2249-48632013-01-012434935310.4103/2249-4863.123889Female literacy rate is a better predictor of birth rate and infant mortality rate in IndiaSuman SaurabhSonali SarkarDhruv K PandeyBackground: Educated women are known to take informed reproductive and healthcare decisions. These result in population stabilization and better infant care reflected by lower birth rates and infant mortality rates (IMRs), respectively. Materials and Methods: Our objective was to study the relationship of male and female literacy rates with crude birth rates (CBRs) and IMRs of the states and union territories (UTs) of India. The data were analyzed using linear regression. CBR and IMR were taken as the dependent variables; while the overall literacy rates, male, and female literacy rates were the independent variables. Results: CBRs were inversely related to literacy rates (slope parameter = -0.402, P < 0.001). On multiple linear regression with male and female literacy rates, a significant inverse relationship emerged between female literacy rate and CBR (slope = -0.363, P < 0.001), while male literacy rate was not significantly related to CBR (P = 0.674). IMR of the states were also inversely related to their literacy rates (slope = -1.254, P < 0.001). Multiple linear regression revealed a significant inverse relationship between IMR and female literacy (slope = -0.816, P = 0.031), whereas male literacy rate was not significantly related (P = 0.630). Conclusion: Female literacy is relatively highly important for both population stabilization and better infant health.http://www.jfmpc.com/article.asp?issn=2249-4863;year=2013;volume=2;issue=4;spage=349;epage=353;aulast=SaurabhBirth rateeducationfemale literacyIndiainfant mortalitypopulation growth |
| spellingShingle | Suman Saurabh Sonali Sarkar Dhruv K Pandey Female literacy rate is a better predictor of birth rate and infant mortality rate in India Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care Birth rate education female literacy India infant mortality population growth |
| title | Female literacy rate is a better predictor of birth rate and infant mortality rate in India |
| title_full | Female literacy rate is a better predictor of birth rate and infant mortality rate in India |
| title_fullStr | Female literacy rate is a better predictor of birth rate and infant mortality rate in India |
| title_full_unstemmed | Female literacy rate is a better predictor of birth rate and infant mortality rate in India |
| title_short | Female literacy rate is a better predictor of birth rate and infant mortality rate in India |
| title_sort | female literacy rate is a better predictor of birth rate and infant mortality rate in india |
| topic | Birth rate education female literacy India infant mortality population growth |
| url | http://www.jfmpc.com/article.asp?issn=2249-4863;year=2013;volume=2;issue=4;spage=349;epage=353;aulast=Saurabh |
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