Survival Analysis of Infant Mortality in Ethiopia
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Date
2013-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Mortality is one of the components of population change. Infant and child mOl1ality are
among the best indicators of health development and socioeconomic status. Because a
society's life expectancy at birth is determined by the survival chances of infants and
children. That is why reduction of infant and child mortality is a worldwide target and
one of the most important key indicators of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Hence its indication is very important for evaluation and public health strategy.
The objective of this study was to examine the impact of maternal, socio economic and
sanitation variables on infant and child mortality in Ethiopia and identify which of these
factors had a pronounced impact for the reduction of infant and child mortality. The data
in this study were obtained fi'om the 2011 Ethiopia Demographic and Health survey
(EDI-IS, 2011) conducted by the Central Statistical Agency (CSA). To analyze the data
descriptive statistics, univariate and multi variable analyses were used. The descriptive
analysis indicates that a death proportion is lower for females (20.6%) than for males
(24.85%). Kaplan-Meier survival curves and log-Rank test were used to compare the
survival experience of different groups. Cox's regression model was employed to identify
the covariates that had a statistical significant effect on the survival time of infants. The
estimation of the model parameters was done by partial maximum likelihood procedures.
Mothers' educational level, birth order, sex and types of birth were identified as the risk
factors for the death of infants. Furthermore it was found that the survival probabilities of
infants with multiple birth, first birth order, non educated mothers and male children were
low.
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analysis of infant mortality in Ethiopia