Health Intervention and Health Equity: Evidence from Matlab, Bangladesh

Abdur Razzaque, ICDDR,B: Centre for Health and Population Research
Peter Kim Streatfield, ICDDR,B: Centre for Health and Population Research

The study examined socio-economic and gender inequality of under 5 mortality using data from Matlab Demographic Surveillance System of ICDDR,B. Two birth cohorts were followed in two adjacent areas (ICDDR,B-service and govt-service) with difference in health services . The under 5 mortality declined more overtime in the ICDDR,B-service than in govt.-service area and same is true for infant but 1-4 years, mortality decline was almost similar. Over the period, poor-rich ratio of under 5 mortality had widened in both areas while it is also true for infant but for 1-4 years, the difference reduced slightly in ICDDR,B-service area. Under 5 mortality was higher for girls than boys in the earlier cohort but such difference disappeared in the recent cohort. More boys died during infancy than girls in both the areas but for 1-4 years, more girls died than boys in the earlier while such difference disappeared in the recent cohort.