This paper is focused on two issues. Firstly, to what extent can we explain the observed mortality decline and secondly, can we attribute the observed chinese advantage to demographic or behavioural factors?

Using data form a nationally representative sample of more than 12,000births, this study assesses infant and child mortality differences in Cameroon by residence area, mother's education, ethnicity, marital status and union type, religion and inteplay of those factorson differentials mortality.