Health of the mother and health of the child are inextricably linked at least for the first few years of the child’s life. This book contributes to a better understanding of the ‘linked lives’ of mother and child by adopting a life course perspective. It follows a recommendation made at the Cairo International Conference on Population and Development in 1994 to adopt a holistic approach to the concept of reproductive health by linking the reproductive health of women and the health of children.
Kerala has been chosen for the present research. The research question is how maternal characteristics influence the survival and health of children in Kerala. A theoretical process-context approach is adopted, which situates reproductive health in a broader context of the life course and the socio-cultural context. The data are from the National Family Health Survey conducted in Kerala during 1992-93. The results reveal a considerable reduction in the effective and potential reproductive spans among younger women, with shifts in the timing of marriage, first, second and last births and sterilisation. Although children born in Kerala are more likely to survive infancy and childhood, a significant proportion remain unhealthy in terms of comparatively poor nutritional status. Preceding birth interval and antenatal care determine neonatal survival, whereas the timing of weaning and mother’s standard of living significantly predict the nutritional status of children under four years in Kerala. The existing paradoxes of lower economic development and poorer calorie intake by people and its links with maternal reproductive health behaviour and health of children are identified as some of the thrust areas to be researched in the future, particularly with reference to Kerala and other low infant mortality populations.
Sabu S. Padmadas (1972) holds an M.Sc. in Demography from the University of Kerala in India. The present project was carried out as a part of the larger research programme ‘Healthy Reproduction: Research for Action (HERA), a joint initiative of the Population Research Centre, University of Groningen, and the Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute (NIDI) at The Hague.The book is based on his PhD research. Sabu Padmadas is currently a post-doctoral researcher at the Population Research Centre of the University of Groningen, and lives in Groningen City with his wife and daughter.
