Cross-County Analysis on Infant Mortality in Remote and Poverty-Stricken Areas in China

Objective To analysis macro2level factors influencing infant mortality in order to set up the priority in lowering infant mortality.Methods Basing demographic,sociological and epidemiological research multivariate linear regression analysis techniques was used,both county-level infant death data of 1997 and related county-level social-=demographic and health resources data were analysed in 114 counties of 5 remote and poverty-stricken provinces in China.Results Institutional delivery rate,per capita health personnel and population density were negatively related to infant mortality.Percentage of high-risk pregnancy,per capita paediatricians per capita income and percentage of minority population were positively related to infant mortality.There were different factors influencing infant mortality such as endogenous causes and exogenous causes.Conclusions To advocate institution delivery rate,to establish and improve infant health workers' capacity in grass root level,to pay greater attention to minority and to low population density area are recommended strategies to lower infant mortality.