MOTHERS’ WORK RELATED TO INFANT MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY IN THAILAND

Infant mortality is an indicator reflecting the development and health levels of countries. Due to reduce trend of mortality, morbidity is significant concern from policy maker, public health workers and demographers. Since a mother is the key person to lessen health problem of her children in early life, the relationship between mother and child in those years might affect an infant’s illness and death as well as their later life. According to Mosley and Chen’s analytical framework(1984), Briggs’ multiple exposures multiple effects(2003), and UNICEF’s the basic and underlying causes of undernutrition(2007) are the most prominent key for the study of child survival in developing countries, this study was based on them. Due to the socio-economic development of Thailand, increasing proportions of working age mothers share the family’s burden. As a result, the work of mothers could influence their infants’ illness. This study will examine the causal relationship of mothers’ work on infant morbidity and infant mortality in Thailand. Within the mothers working activities, the mother’s employment status, and her occupational categories might show causal relationship with health of infants. To examine this relationship, the prospective cohort study of Thai children (PCTC) was employed. The benefits of this study are: an intensify role of state to support working mother in the work place; enhance role of conventional medicine to help decrease number of adverse infant health; and increase role of family for understand the balancing between infant care and working status of mothers. 

By Cartoon (Abstract of thesis proposal defense examination on June, 28, 2012)