Female Labor Force Participation, Paid Maternity, Caste System and Child Mortality in Nepal

Child mortality is given top priority in both developed and developing countries because of its dynamic relations with social, economic, political, cultural circumstances of the country and its relationship with changing demographics. The changing demographics are well explained by declining total fertility rate throughout the world. In this scenario to save life of every birth is very important for both developed and developing countries. Using both multivariate binary logistic analysis model and survival analysis model, papers present impact of female labour force participation (FLFP), caste system and paid maternity on under 5, under 2 and infant mortality in Nepal between 2012 to 2016. These models control for the already proved relevant maternal and child characteristics which impact the child mortality. The results of this study are obtained from the latest, and reliable data from Nepal demographic health survey 2016-17. This study provides the evidence on importance of paid maternity and longer work leave on survival of child until he/she is 2 years old. Further, Terai caste mother have higher under 5 death compared to other castes mother of Nepal. This study reinforced that institutional delivery, exclusive breast feeding and average size of child at birth have positive effect in child survival. In this regards, decreasing child mortality is possible by providing job with paid maternity leave for longer time and by providing flexible working time to mothers until their child is 2 years of old.