Factors Associated with U5M in the Afar Region of Ethiopia

Abstract

Background. Ethiopia has experienced a significant reduction of under-five mortality over the past few decades. But still, the country is far from the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of 2030. This study aims to identify the potential associated factors of under-five mortality in the Afar region, Ethiopia. Methods. Data from a national representative cross-sectional survey of Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey of the year 2016 were used. Data were collected from the population of all under-five children in randomly selected enumeration areas of the Afar region of Ethiopia. Chi-squared and binary logistic regression analyses were employed. Results. The result revealed that twin child [(AOR = 5.37; 95%CI: 2.12–13.62)], age of mothers at first birth [(AOR = 0.47; 95%CI: 0.35–0.62) of greater than 16], current breastfeeders (AOR = 0.41; 95%CI: 0.32–0.54), rural residents (AOR: 2.54; 95%CI: 2.49–2.58), used current contraceptive methods (AOR = 0.38; 95%CI: 0.15–0.94), vaccinated the child (AOR = 0.40; 95%CI: 0.27–0.59), family size [(AOR = 0.65; 95%CI: 0.41–0.92) for 4–6 household members and (AOR = 0.49; 95%CI: 0.29–0.80) for seven and more household members], rich households (AOR = 0.03; 95%CI: 0.01–0.16), mother’s age group [(AOR = 3.24; 95%CI: 1.90–5.54) (age 20–29), (AOR = 12.43; 95%CI: 6.86–22.51) (age 30–39), and (AOR = 46.31; 95%CI: 21.74–98.67) (age 40 and above), and antenatal visits ((AOR = 0.48; 95%CI: 0.31–0.74) (1–3 visits) and (AOR = 0.44; 95%CI: 0.24–0.81) (4 and more visits)) significantly determined the under-five mortality. Conclusions. The study showed that giving birth at an early age, low coverage and quality of health access, unimproved breastfeeding culture, nonaccessibility to contraceptive methods, absence of awareness of mothers on vaccination of a child, low economic status of households, and low status of mothers’ antenatal visits lead to the highest under-five mortality in the area. Therefore, community-based educational programs and public health interventions focused on improving the survival of children by providing awareness to the community and specifically to mothers should be improved.

Risk factor of neonatal mortality in Ethiopia: multilevel analysis of 2016 Demographic and Health Survey

“…The possible response might be due to poor nutrition and difficulty accessing health services. Neonates born from high-income households would be able to meet needs and services such as health facilities, quality of life, quality of water, and increased provision of sanitation [32]. These results were consistent with previous reports [18,31], which suggest that a lower wealth quintile was associated with child mortality.…”

Mother's education and infant survival in Ethiopia

“…The strengths of this study included the large sample size and the accessibility of data with information from a nationally representative sample of the 2016 EDHS, which had several confounders of infant mortality in Ethiopia (e.g., EDHS, 2017). Our study thus contrasts with past studies in Ethiopia that have worked with a small and nonrepresentative sample (e.g., Gebremichael & Fenta, 2020; Tesema et al, 2021).…”

“…Moreover, in Ethiopia, Gebremichael and Fenta (2020) and Tesema et al (2021) have comprehensively investigated the association between mothers' education and infant mortality; however, these studies need to be revised to consider proximate factors and confounding variables. Furthermore, Bereka et al, (2017) only focused on the Ethiopian Somali Regional State, while Gebretsadik and Gabreyohannes (2016) only included high‐mortality regions in Ethiopia by using a small sample.…”

Trends and Associated Factors of Under-five Mortality Based on 2008–2016 Data in Kersa Health and Demographic Surveillance Site, Eastern Ethiopia

“…29 However, the findings of this study are not in line with the study conducted in the Afar region, which has shown family sizes have a significant reduction in child mortality. 35 …”

“…29 However, the findings of this study are not in line with the study conducted in the Afar region, which has shown family sizes have a significant reduction in child mortality. 35 The risk of under-five deaths was higher among children who lived in houses built with inadequate materials than in those with standard and moderate housing materials (a house built in the absence of windows and inadequate materials from which the roof was built). The house built with moderate housing materials (windows installed) reduced the risk of dying more than a child in a house built with inadequate materials.…”