historical demography; mortality; infant mortality; neonatal mortality; first demographic transition; Moravia; Austrian Silesia; Ostrava

Child mortality rate, primarily in the infant stage, ranks among the most important aspects of the research process of the first demographic transition as this is closely connected with the level of fertility as well as the general mortality. The following study examines the developments and differences in the mortality of small children (0-5 years) within an area influenced by industrialization. On the basis of historical development, the authors attempt to outline the possible reasons behind the varied figures for the child mortality in districts where new industrial centres came about, in surrounding districts making up the supporting facilities for the industrial areas and in the declining rural areas. The basic source for this study has been Austrian Statistics for natural change over the 1881-1913.