Maternal care vs. economic wealth and the health of newborns: Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic and Kansas City, USA

Type Journal Article - World Development
Title Maternal care vs. economic wealth and the health of newborns: Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic and Kansas City, USA
Author(s)
Volume 26
Issue 11
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 1998
Page numbers 2057-2072
Abstract
This paper focuses on a narrow aspect of the demographic and health crisis in the former Soviet Union, examining the extent to which maternal behavior can compensate for poverty and poor medical conditions. Using sister hospital data form Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan and Kansas City, USA covering nearly 1,500 live births, the paper finds that Kyrgyzstani women are partially successful in compensating by taking better care of themselves and their newborn children. Moreover, ethnicity within Kyrgyzstan has no apparent impact on maternal behavior. Careful behavior, however, does not remove all disadvantages, and targeted interventions are still greatly needed.

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