Determinants of Childhood Mortality in Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Regional State (SNNPRS): An Analysis of the 2005 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey
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Date
2007-07
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Reduction of under-jive mortality is one of the millennium development goals. Over the past two
decades the level of inji:lI1t and child mortality has been declining in Ethiopia. Nevertheless, it
continues to be among the highesl in the world A substantial difference in the level of childhood
mortality has also been observed among regions of the country. In-depth underslanding of the
levels, trends, differentials and determinants of childhood mortality is. therefbre. crucial in any
attempt to attain the goal of reducing infant and child mortalily level through any kind of
intervention. In this regard, this study examines the delerll1inants of infant and childhood morlality
in the Southern Nalions Nationalities and Peoples Regional State (.,)NNPRS) ()fEthiopia.
The main objective of this study is 10 assess the effects of socioeconomic. demographic, maternal
health care and environmental ji:lctors on infant and child mortality. Data for the study were
drawn from the 2005 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey. A tolal of), 730 children born in
the past five years preceding the survey were used as a unit of analysis. Cox Proportional hazard
model regression analysis was used to estimate the net effects of each of the covariates included in
the model.
The study reveals that the demographic variables are important in determining child survival in
the region and the risk of mortalily is high for births with short preceding birth interval «2
years), short duration ofbreasljeeding «6 months). births to young women «20 years) andfirst
and higher order births. Survival status of the previous child at the birth of the index child is also
found to have an effect on infant mortality. From the socioeconomic factors, maternal education,
marital status, toilet facility and ethnicity show slight impact in determining infant and child
mortality in the region, Ihough their independent effect is not slatistically significant.
Policy focus should be on promotion of breasljeeding and improvement o/family planning
programs in order to increase birth interval lenglh and reduce both childhood mortality and
fe rtility in the region.
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Keywords
Childhood Mortality in, Southern Nations