GENDER INEQUALITY AFFECTING INFANTS’ MORTALITY IN PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN

Abstract

The present study entitled “Gender Inequality affecting Infants’ Mortality in Peshawar, Pakistan” was conducted in different hospitals of Peshawar i.e. Zakia Minhas Hospital, Khyber Teaching Hospital, Johar-Khatoon Hospital and Kalsoom Maternity Home. The nature of the study was quantitative and interview schedule was used as a tool of data collection for collecting information from the sample size of 217 respondents selected through simple random sampling. A conceptual framework consists of independent variable i.e. gender inequality and a dependent variable i.e. child mortality was cross tabulated through the application of Chi Square test statistics to ascertain association between the dependent and independent variables. The study revealed a significant association (P≤0.05) of child mortality with the statements such as denial of basic education within poor household, infants deaths associated with inadequate nutrition, unfair distribution of resources within family, women’s lack of access to social power, women are victims of domestic violent behavior, inequalities between male and female on the basis of biological and social differences, women lives are considered less valued than of boys, male dominancy over female since birth, gendered mortality inequalities, gendered based stereotypes leads to lack of access to fundamental rights, women’s lack of access to health care, preferential treatment for boys. The study recommends providing free easy access of medical facilities to pregnant women, to empower women economically and politically, and educating them about various kinds of diseases through awareness program to reduce risk of infant mortality