Many cross‐national studies of child and infant mortality emphasize predictors linked to modernization theory, such as economic development level as measured by GNI (gross national income) or GDP (gross domestic product) per capita. However, much less research considers the effects of social inequality on child mortality. This paper relies on four theoretical frameworks. In addition to modernization theory, it assesses the social democratic theory, the class stratification theory, and the gender stratification theory by examining the effects of state commitment to health care, class inequality, and gender inequality on child mortality. The findings demonstrate some support for each of the theories. Along with economic development, state commitment to health care, class inequality, and gender inequality demonstrate significant direct effects on child mortality in LDCs (less developed countries). In addition, economic development has a significant indirect effect on child mortality via state commitment to health care and gender inequality, but not via class inequality.

許多針對兒童死亡率的跨國研究強調經濟發展水平對兒童死亡率的作用， 它們依據的是現代化理論， 通常是以人均產值作計量。 人們往往較少考查種種社會不平等因素對兒童死亡率的作用。 本文用結構方程模式的定量分析方法同時對四種相關理論進行評估， 除現代化理論外， 我們考查社會民主理論， 階級差異理論， 及性別差異理論對兒童死亡率的作用。 我們對137個發展中國家(其中包括中國)的分析結果對以上四種相關理論均提供一定證據。 經濟發展水平， 收入不均， 婦女地位， 及政府對醫療保健的投入都對兒童死亡率有著直接的作用。 此外， 經濟發展水平通過婦女地位和政府對醫療保健的投入對兒童死亡率有間接的作用。

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