Aggregate Level Analysis of the Effect of Socioeconomic Factors on Neonatal, Postneonatal, and Infant Mortality in Peru, 2000

Tania R. Vasquez, University of Texas at Austin

The objective of this research was to obtain a general view of the effect of socioeconomic variables on the infant mortality documented for Peru in 2000, using an aggregate level approach and considering neonatal and postneonatal mortality. Seven types of socioeconomic variables were used: variables for education; variables for labor; variables for access to services; for socioeconomic status (measured by durable goods consumption); and for presence of immigrant poor. In addition, a group of variables meant to represent some of the basic characteristics of the average Peruvian household structure was utilized. The twenty-four departamentos of Peru were the units of analysis, and data from the Demographic and Health Survey of Peru in 2000 along with some specific data obtained from the National Household Survey (ENAHO) of Peru for 2001-2002 were employed.