Socio-Economic and Demographic Correlates of Infant and Child Mortality: The Case of Slum Areas in Rajshahi District of Bangladesh

The aim of this study is to identify the important effects of socio-demographic characteristics on infant and child mortality. For this reason, data were collected from slum areas of Rajshahi City Corporation at Rajshahi district in Bangladesh through purposive sampling technique. Chi-square test, correlation and multiple coefficients of determination techniques have been employed for analyzing the differential patterns, interrelationships and effects of socio-demographic correlates on infant and child death. Education of parents, income of household, occupation, age at first marriage and breast- feeding are significantly associated with infant and child death. The combined effects of social and demographic variables are wholly explained 46.2% and 82.5% for both infant and child death respectively. Therefore, female education, age at first marriage as well as income level should be increased at any cost to ensure reducing death of infant and child.