The effect of gender inequalities on infant and child mortality in Turkey

Ilknur Yuksel Alyanak, Hacettepe University

The high infant mortality rate of Turkey is called as ‘a Turkish puzzle’ in the demographic literature. Although the infant and child mortality rates have been declining in Turkey, the differentials in mortality by age, gender, place of residence, region, ethnicity, income, education, wealth, access and use of health services etc. have been experienced differently within the country. In this study the effects of gender relations on childhood mortality will be analysed focusing the life style characteristics of mothers, marriage structure, women’s empowerment, spouse relationship and intra-household relations as well as other socio-economic conditions. Quantitative analysis of this study is based on the 2003 Turkey DHS. The TDHS 1978-1998 are also used as a comparison to show the differentiation for a long period on the trends and levels of childhood mortality. Moreover, the qualitative methods will be used to expose the effects of gender relations within family as well as the society on childhood mortality.