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KMID : 0904520070200010029
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Health and Medical Sociology
2007 Volume.20 No. 1 p.29 ~ p.46
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The Relationship Between Parental Socioeconomic Position and Childhood Mortality
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Yoon Tae-Ho
Kim Joon-Youn
Yu Seung-Hum
Kim Jung-Man
Lee Yong-Hwan
Hong Young-Seoub
Lee Sang-Yi
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Abstract
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This study was performed to examine the association between childhood mortality and parental socioeconomic position according to age groups.
Data on births registered in South Korea in 1995 (696,025 births) were linked with the national death register 1995-2003 (3,547 deaths) using unique national identification numbers. Parental socioeconomic position was defined by parental education level and occupation of the father. Age groups were classified as neonatal, post-neonatal, 1-4 and 5-8 years. Statistical analyses were based on the multivariate Cox’s proportional hazard model after adjustment for maternal age at birth, birth weight, gestational age and plurality.
There was a systematic gradient in child mortality according to the parental education level, occupation of the father, and regional socioeconomic state at birth. Multivariate analyses demonstrated socioeconomic differences in morality rate ratios; independent associations were persistent in the post-neonatal period, 1-4, 5-8 age groups, but in the case of neonatal period, it was weaker. Children whose parents, especially the mother, had the highest education had over 3 times a higher mortality rate than those in the lowest sector.
Child health has improved dramatically in South Korea over the past decades, but there are some alarming negative socioeconomic trends. Children are an important group for interventions aimed at reducing health inequalities. The government of South Korea should recognize more the right of all children to the best possible start in life.
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KEYWORD
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Child, Socioeconomic Position, Mortality, Inequality
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