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.