The correlates of infant and childhood mortality. A theoretical overview and new evidence from the analysis of longitudinal data from Bejsce parish register reconstitution study 18th-20th centuries, Poland

Krzysztof Tymicki, Warsaw School of Economics

The paper reviews theoretical background of the infant mortality studies and adds new evidence from longitudinal study of Bejsce parish registers. Applied multilevel hazard models of mortality over first 60 months of life include rich set of covariates, for instance: sex, birth rank, birth intervals, survival of previous child, presence of extended family (grandmother effect). The analysis also demonstrates the change in relative importance of analysed factors during the process of mortality decline. Obtained mortality patterns overlap with those reported in other studies. Moreover results provide an evidence for crucial role of post-reproductive family members on survival during the first 60 months of life.