Correlation of Literacy and Infant Mortality
Background Educated women are known to take informed reproductive and healthcare decisions. These result in population stabilization and better infant care reflected by lower birth rates and infant mortality rates (IMRs), respectively. A strong relationship exists between a woman's literacy and her use of reproductive and maternal health services. Literacy is directly related to the status of a woman, her age at marriage, her decision power and to mention especially, capability to access health care services. Literacy not only increases women's self-confidence but also makes them more exposed to information and thereby altering the way others respond to them. Female self-confidence and literacy improve the chances that women will obtain meaningful employment, reduces their demand for children and improves health-seeking behavior, makes them aware of nutritional requirements-all these combined improve the chances of survival of both-the mother and the baby. The present projec...