A Study on Childhood Mortality Using Shared Frailty Modeling Approach

Abstract

The aim of the study was to develop shared frailty models accountable for individual and community level heterogeneity. With an objective that proper steps can be taken both at individual family and community levels in any society prior to any planning for child survival programmes. Analysis includes 51,555 live births that occurred 5 year preceding the National Family Health Family Health Survey-3, India. Multivariable fractional polynomial approach was used to shortlist potential variables based on modified Mosley and Chen framework. After verifying proportional hazard assumptions the traditional Cox and extended Cox model were applied it was observed that for correlated/hierarchical data the estimates of Cox-PH model can be misleading so proper care should be taken for consideration of frailty while assessing childhood mortality in any clustered population.