Maternal Illiteracy and its Impact on Child Survival: An International Perspective

Maternal illiteracy is known to effect child survival. How closely maternal education and illiteracy rates affect child morbidity and mortality is explored in this study. Over 29,000 children die a day from preventable causes. More than a quarter of these deaths occur in the first twenty eight days of life. Child survival is a strategy to improve the health of children under age five. Exact mechanisms of how maternal education effects child health may be based on the age of young mothers and their lack of formal or non formal education. An analysis of infant and child mortality indicates that, on an average, an additional year of education for a mother results in a reduction of 9/1000 in the mortality rate of her children. The impact of maternal illiteracy on child health is discussed with reference to illness management, health systems access, and psychosocial consequences. Community based training programs can empower a local community for effective change. Models of community programs are reviewed. Options on how to effectively train a non literate population in non formal methods are discussed. Increasingly, literacy is part of a variety of skills needed for an adult to function and succeed in society. The connection between literacy, health, and disease with child survival will gain more importance in the developing nations the next century. Healthy populations will survive disasters and epidemics. Healthy and literate populations will sustain a national economy. One of the most effective ways to help girls in poor countries who are at risk of becoming pregnant at an early age is to focus on girls' education. Few programs in child survival look at maternal illiteracy. Mothers' risk factors, based on their age of child bearing or education level, need to be included in effective strategies for improving infant and child survival rates. Recommendations for child survival programs and goals for public policy advocacy are proposed.Master of Public Healt