RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Effect of urban versus rural residence and of maternal education on infant health in South Lebanon.
JF Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health
JO J Epidemiol Community Health
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP 192
OP 196
DO 10.1136/jech.36.3.192
VO 36
IS 3
A1 H Zurayk
A1 M Tawil
A1 E Gangarosa
YR 1982
UL http://jech.bmj.com/content/36/3/192.abstract
AB A sample of 253 women from rural and urban areas of south Lebanon were visited for 18 months after delivery. Information was collected on patterns of reproduction, infant feeding, and use of the health services. The findings indicate that educated women and women living in urban areas were better off in terms of family formation patterns, immunisation, and well-baby care. The importance of educating women, particularly in rural areas, as a policy that can be varied to improve child health and growth is thus emphasised. The study also indicates, however, the special need for health education programmes directed to all mothers to emphasise proper breast-feeding patterns and the importance of preventive health care for infants. The findings also indicate the need for a more diversified system of delivering health care in which properly trained paramedical personnel take part, particularly in rural areas.