Exploring the Relationship Between Maternal Occupation and Under-Five Mortality: Empirical Evidence from 26 Developing Countries

Rafi Amir-ud-Din (), Sameen Zafar, Muhammad Muzammil (), Rabia Shabbir (), Summaira Malik () and Muhammad Usman ()
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Rafi Amir-ud-Din: COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore Campus
Muhammad Muzammil: COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore Campus
Summaira Malik: COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore Campus
Muhammad Usman: COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore Campus

The European Journal of Development Research, 2022, vol. 34, issue 5, No 11, 2373-2399

Abstract: Abstract While greater female participation in the job market is seen as an effective way of achieving higher economic growth, some studies reveal that maternal employment could be a risk factor for child mortality. We analyze the association between under-five mortality and maternal employment in 26 developing countries from Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and the Middle East using Demographic and Health Surveys. Logistic regression results suggest that maternal employment is associated with a 24.5% higher risk of child mortality than stay-at-home mothers. Compared to stay-at-home mothers, maternal engagement in agriculture is associated with 24% higher odds of under-5 mortality, while engagement in blue-collar jobs is associated with 29% higher odds of under-5 mortality. We also find that white-collar jobs do not give any advantage over the stay-at-home mothers with respect to this risk. Interaction of maternal employment types with breastfeeding confirms the increased risk of child mortality for agriculture and blue-collar jobs.

Keywords: Under-five mortality; Maternal employment; Agriculture jobs; Blue-collar jobs; White-collar jobs; Breastfeeding (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1057/s41287-021-00458-1

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