In this study, early age mortality was investigated focusing on selected intermediate variables and effective sociocultural factors. The data for this study were taken from the Turkey Demographic and Health Surveys conducted in 1993 and 2003. The framework facilitating analysis of early age mortality developed by Mosley and Chen was used as a frame for this study, and child mortality indices were calculated for each woman. In this study, in the light of the descriptive results related to child mortality, the effects of social and cultural characteristics on early age mortality are discussed in the framework of a "Turkish puzzle". The results of this study indicate that sociocultural factors have contributed to the continuation of the mentioned puzzle.

Keywords: bebek ölüm hızı, çocuk ölümlülüğü indeksi, nüfus ve sağlık araştırmaları.