- 學位論文
Factors Related to Infant Mortality Rate in Malawi
FACTORS RELATED TO INFANT MORTALITY RATE IN MALAWI
摘要
ABSTRACT Introduction Despite the large reduction of infant mortality rates in the last two decades, the burden of infant mortality is still high in Malawi. Since few studies have specifically addressed the determinants of infant mortality in Malawi, this exploratory study identified a series of distal, intermediate, and proximal factors related to infant mortality using a conceptual framework explaining the risk of child survival in developing countries. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of family and socioeconomic factors on the risk of an infant to die before 12 months. Methods This study used data from the 2004 and 2010 MDHS. This study adopted a cross-sectional study design involved 4,698 and 12,174 singleton births in the year of 2004 and 2010 respectively. Multiple logistic regression models were used to estimate the effects of selected variables on infant mortality. Results A total of 228 (49%) infants did not survive more than 12 months in 2004, whilst 584 (48%) children did not survive more than 12 months in 2010. In the multivariate logistic regression analyses, in 2004 women who resided in urban areas were 58% less likely to report infant deaths than those in rural areas (OR = 0.48; 95% CI = 0.22 – 0.82). Infants who were born in the second or third birth order were less likely to die before 12 months (OR = 0.58; 95% CI = 0.38 – 0.89). However, caesarian section delivery was found to be a risk factor associated with infant mortality in the year of 2004 (OR = 1.95; 95% CI = 1.08 – 3.51). On the other hand, women who were in highest 20% household wealth (OR = 0.56; 95% CI = 0.39 – 0.80), who resided in the northern region (OR = 0.61; 95% CI = 0.43 – 0.87), and women of 20 – 29 age group (OR = 0.60; 95% CI = 0.43 – 0.86) were less likely to report infant deaths. However caesarian section delivery (OR = 1.94; 95% CI = 1.42 – 2.67), male infants (OR = 1.26; 95% CI = 1.08 – 1.53), and small birth size (OR = 2.03; 95% CI = 1.63 – 2.53) are the significant predictors of infant mortality in the year of 2010. Conclusion This study shows that improving the quality of life in rural areas, evenly distributing health delivery services and other social economic factors across the nation, and improving maternal and child health services would decrease infant mortality in Malawi.
並列摘要
ABSTRACT Introduction Despite the large reduction of infant mortality rates in the last two decades, the burden of infant mortality is still high in Malawi. Since few studies have specifically addressed the determinants of infant mortality in Malawi, this exploratory study identified a series of distal, intermediate, and proximal factors related to infant mortality using a conceptual framework explaining the risk of child survival in developing countries. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of family and socioeconomic factors on the risk of an infant to die before 12 months. Methods This study used data from the 2004 and 2010 MDHS. This study adopted a cross-sectional study design involved 4,698 and 12,174 singleton births in the year of 2004 and 2010 respectively. Multiple logistic regression models were used to estimate the effects of selected variables on infant mortality. Results A total of 228 (49%) infants did not survive more than 12 months in 2004, whilst 584 (48%) children did not survive more than 12 months in 2010. In the multivariate logistic regression analyses, in 2004 women who resided in urban areas were 58% less likely to report infant deaths than those in rural areas (OR = 0.48; 95% CI = 0.22 – 0.82). Infants who were born in the second or third birth order were less likely to die before 12 months (OR = 0.58; 95% CI = 0.38 – 0.89). However, caesarian section delivery was found to be a risk factor associated with infant mortality in the year of 2004 (OR = 1.95; 95% CI = 1.08 – 3.51). On the other hand, women who were in highest 20% household wealth (OR = 0.56; 95% CI = 0.39 – 0.80), who resided in the northern region (OR = 0.61; 95% CI = 0.43 – 0.87), and women of 20 – 29 age group (OR = 0.60; 95% CI = 0.43 – 0.86) were less likely to report infant deaths. However caesarian section delivery (OR = 1.94; 95% CI = 1.42 – 2.67), male infants (OR = 1.26; 95% CI = 1.08 – 1.53), and small birth size (OR = 2.03; 95% CI = 1.63 – 2.53) are the significant predictors of infant mortality in the year of 2010. Conclusion This study shows that improving the quality of life in rural areas, evenly distributing health delivery services and other social economic factors across the nation, and improving maternal and child health services would decrease infant mortality in Malawi.