Determinant factors of under-five mortality in Southern Nations, Nationalities and People’s region (SNNPR), Ethiopia

Abstract

Background Child mortality is a key indicator of the performance of the health system of a nation. Impressive progress in the reduction of under-five mortality has been made in Ethiopia. However, still there are some regions where the under-five mortality rates are high. Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ Region (SNNPR) is among those regions in Ethiopia with high under-five mortality rates. This study aimed to identify the determinant factors of under-five mortality in SNNPR. Methods Data used for the study were drawn from the 2016 EDHS. A total of 1277 under-five children were included in the study. A multivariable logistic regression model was fitted to identify determinant factors associated with under-five mortality. Results Children with second or third birth order (OR = 1.316, 95% CI: (1.097, 2.343)), fourth or fifth birth order (OR = 1.934, 95% CI: (1.678, 3.822)), sixth or above birth order (OR = 3.980, 95% CI: (2.352, 6.734)) were significantly associated with increased risk of under-five mortality as compared to those with first birth order. Increased risk of under-five mortality was also significantly associated with a family size of five or more (OR = 3.397, 95% CI: (1.702, 6.782)) as compared to the family size of less than five; smaller size at birth (OR = 1.714, 95% CI: (1.120, 2.623)) as compared to larger size at birth; multiple births (OR = 1.472, 95% CI: (1.289, 2.746)) as compared to singletons. On the other hand, female children (OR = 0.552, 95% CI: (0.327, 0.932)), children born at health institutions (OR = 0.449, 95% CI: (0.228, 0.681)) and children who were breastfed (OR = 0.657, 95% CI: (0.393, 0.864)) were significantly associated with decreased risk of under-five mortality as compared to male children, those born at home and those who were not breastfed respectively. Conclusions Sex of a child, birth order, size of a child at birth, place of delivery, birth type, breastfeeding status, and family size were significant factors associated with under-five mortality in SNNPR, Ethiopia. Thus, planning and implementing relevant strategies that focus on those identified determinant factors of under-five mortality is required for the improvement of child survival in SNNPR, Ethiopia.

Risk factors of under-five mortality in Ethiopia using count data regression models, 2021

“…This study also found that the incidence rate of U5M increased with increased birth order of the child. This is consistent with other previous studies [ 4 , 46 , 47 ]. Possible reason might be that as birth order increases, intra-familiar competition for foods and other limited resources essential for child's need will be increased.…”

“…This is consistent with prior studies [ 28 , 33 , 42 , 43 , 50 ]. Higher U5M rate was also associated with children of multiple birth type, which is consistent with the studies [ [8] , [9] , [10] , 32 , 39 , 47 , 51 ]. Lower U5M rate was associated with larger family size.…”

“…However, this study had limitations in that the EMDHS is mostly based on respondents' self-report and might have the possibility of recall bias. In addition, some variables like weight of child at birth [ 47 , 53 , 54 ], maternal anemia [ [54] , [55] , [56] ], child's breastfeeding status [ 7 , 47 , 57 ], diarrhea [ 48 , 58 , 59 ], pregnancy desire [ 60 , 61 ], mother's employment status [ 48 , 62 , 63 ] and fathers' educational status [ 64 , 65 ] were not included in the study because of large number of missing values/unavailability in the dataset.…”

Analysis of Determinants of Neonatal Mortality in Afar and Somalia Regions, Ethiopia

“…According to prior studies, neonatal mortality is determined by factors like sex of child, birth type, size of child at birth, birth weight, child's birth order, preceding birth interval, region, place of residence, number of Antenatal(ANC) visit of mother during pregnancy, number of Postnatal Care (PNC) visit of mother, place of delivery, mode of delivery, age of mother, educational level of mother, educational level of father, religion of mother, family size, household wealth index, parity, maternal anaemia, and marital status of mother [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22].…”

Factors influencing exclusive breastfeeding practice among under-six months infants in Ethiopia

“…EBF has sustainable long-term health benefits to both infants and mothers. It has benefits to infants in that it reduces neonatal mortality, risk of childhood obesity, and enhances growth and cognitive development, and it also has benefit to mothers in that it reduces the risk of breast and ovarian cancers [5,9,10]. The EBF is associated with demographic, socioeconomic, maternal, socio-cultural, and psychosocial support factors [11].…”