The Effect of Gender Inequalities on Infant and Child Mortality in Turkey∗

It is a well-known fact that although the early age mortality rates have been declining globally the differentials by geographical regions, wealth, ethnicity/race, access and use of gender have been experienced within developed and developing countries as well as within the countries. The aim of this paper is to discuss the importance of gender inequalities as well as other socio-economic effects in infant and child mortality rates in Turkey. “Girls’ disadvantage in early childhood mortality persists in all regions of the world and in the majority of countries with available data” and Yount (2001) pointed out that although the literature focuses on South and East Asia, excess mortality of girls has been unexpectedly high in the Middle East. For example, El Badry (1969) estimated high sex ratios among children aged 0-14 years in the United Arab Republic, Turkey and Syria in 1969.