Infant-Child Mortality and Son Preference as Factors Influencing Fertility in Pakistan

The paper explores and then establishes the role of infant and child mortality on fertility levels in Pakistan, largely because of universal and prolonged breastfeeding practices in the country It is found that the tendency to compensate for child death is stronger among those couples who had a male child loss than among those with experiences of female child losses. 11 is contended that if the Population Welfare Programme is to be implemented successfully in Pakistan, the current emphasis on supply of contraceptive services will have to yield to that on more comprehensive maternal and child health services.