Determinant of infant mortality in Ethiopia: demographic, socio economic, maternal and environmental factors

Abstract

Background: Infant mortality reflects the effect of social, economic and environmental factors on infants and mothers, as well as the effectiveness of national health systems. Infant mortality remains a big challenge for the Ethiopian mothers and government due to the high infant mortality rates. This study aimed to examine and identify the significant determinants of infant mortality in Ethiopia. Methods: The multivariable binary logistic regression analysis was conducted. The data from the Ethiopia Demographic and health Survey of 2011 and 2016 was used. Result: The infant mortality reduced during the periods of between2011 and 2016. marital status (OR=0.51;95%CI: 0.27-0.951) of not married, mother’s age at first child birth((OR=0.69; 95%CI:0.48-0.994 of 15-19) and (OR=0.452;95%CI:0.302-0.68) of mothers age at first birth above 20 years), birth order(OR=0.183;95%CI:0.134-0.251) of order 2-3 and (OR= 0.416; 95%CI: 0.21,0.82) of order≥4, preceding birth interval(OR=0.64;95%CI:0.48-0.862) of >24 months are revealed that a significant effect on infant mortality in Ethiopia. Moreover, regarding to the socio-economic variables such as region: Benishangul Gumuze (OR=1.62; 95%CI: 1.003-2.601) revealed that a significant effect of infant mortality compared to Tigray region. Again, the variable family size ((OR=0.18; 95%CI: 0.11-0.3 of 4-6 family size) and (OR=0.163; 95%CI:0.093-0.29 of ≥7 family size)) showed that significant effect on infant mortality in 2011 EDHS. Conclusion: Infant mortality was still high in Ethiopia. The findings declared that infant mortality can be reduced substantially by increasing the mother’s age at first birth, duration of breastfeeding and birth interval. Variability among region, marital status, birth order, family size and father education level were also an important significant factor for infant mortality. This finding strongly suggests that, promoting family planning to improve the length of breastfeeding will improve birth intervals and reduce the incidence of higher birth orders at short birth intervals needs to decline the risk of infant mortality.