Explanatory social variables of under-5 mortality caused by injury in Isfahan Province, Islamic Republic of Iran

Abstract

Background: Injuries are a major cause of disease, long-term disability and death. Injury-related damage accounts for 12% of the burden of disease worldwide. Recently, significant improvements in child health have been achieved in the Islamic Republic of Iran: under-5 mortality was reduced substantially from 1990 to 2013. Nevertheless, injury is still a significant cause of mortality in this age group. Aims: Because of their vulnerability and the high rates of injury-related mortality among children under-5, this study aimed at investigating explanatory social variables of injury-related mortality. Methods: The study was conducted using the Commission on Social Determinants of Health conceptual framework among children aged under-5 years in Isfahan Province. Using the national child mortality surveillance system 1433 un-der-5 mortalities during 2010–2015 were secondary analysed. Results: We found 403 (28%) cases were related to injury. Most of the deaths occurred in 706 infants (49.2%), among boys (54.8%) and urban residents (78.9%). Multivariate logistic regression showed that mothers’ low education level, age 1–5 years’, living in a supportive centre and having financial problems increased the odds of under-5 mortality caused by injury (odds ratio > 1, P-value ≤ 0.05). Conclusion: Considering the importance and impacts of social factors on injury-related mortality among children, health policy-makers should initially consider the social determinants of health approach in child health programmes to inform interventions aimed at reducing injury-related mortality.