The effects of reproductive variables on child mortality in Ethiopia: evidence from demographic and health surveys from 2000 to 2016
Abstract Background Child mortality is a crucial indicator reflecting a country's health and socioeconomic status. Despite significant global improvements in reducing early childhood deaths, Southern Asia and sub-Saharan Africa still bear the highest burden of newborn mortality. Ethiopia is one...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Reproductive Health |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-023-01734-5 |
| _version_ | 1797355692533743616 |
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| author | Hailu Refera Debere Visseho Adjiwanou |
| author_facet | Hailu Refera Debere Visseho Adjiwanou |
| author_sort | Hailu Refera Debere |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Child mortality is a crucial indicator reflecting a country's health and socioeconomic status. Despite significant global improvements in reducing early childhood deaths, Southern Asia and sub-Saharan Africa still bear the highest burden of newborn mortality. Ethiopia is one of five countries that account for half of new-born deaths worldwide. Methods This study examined the relationship between specific reproductive factors and under-five mortality in Ethiopia. A discrete-time survival model was applied to analyze data collected from four Ethiopian Demographic and Health Surveys (EDHS) conducted between 2000 and 2016. The study focused on investigating the individual and combined effects of three factors: preceding birth interval, maternal age at childbirth, and birth order, on child mortality. Results The study found that lengthening the preceding birth interval to 18–23, 24–35, 36–47, or 48+ months reduced the risk of under-five deaths by 30%, 46%, 56%, and 60% respectively, compared to very short birth intervals (less than 18 months). Giving birth between the ages 20–34 and 35+ reduced the risk by 34% and 8% respectively, compared to giving birth below the age of 20. The risk of under-five death was higher for a 7th-born child by 17% compared to a 2nd or 3rd-born child. The combined effect analysis showed that higher birth order at a young maternal age increased the risk. In comparison, lower birth order in older maternal age groups was associated with higher risk. Lastly, very short birth intervals posed a greater risk for children with higher birth orders. Conclusion Not only does one reproductive health variable negatively affect child survival, but their combination has the strongest effect. It is therefore recommended that policies in Ethiopia should address short birth intervals, young age of childbearing, and order of birth through an integrated strategy. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T14:14:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0b738ee35aa749c6933554e3ac26511a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1742-4755 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T14:14:46Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Reproductive Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-0b738ee35aa749c6933554e3ac26511a2024-01-14T12:25:21ZengBMCReproductive Health1742-47552024-01-0121111210.1186/s12978-023-01734-5The effects of reproductive variables on child mortality in Ethiopia: evidence from demographic and health surveys from 2000 to 2016Hailu Refera Debere0Visseho Adjiwanou1Addis Ababa UniversityUniversity of Quebec in MontrealAbstract Background Child mortality is a crucial indicator reflecting a country's health and socioeconomic status. Despite significant global improvements in reducing early childhood deaths, Southern Asia and sub-Saharan Africa still bear the highest burden of newborn mortality. Ethiopia is one of five countries that account for half of new-born deaths worldwide. Methods This study examined the relationship between specific reproductive factors and under-five mortality in Ethiopia. A discrete-time survival model was applied to analyze data collected from four Ethiopian Demographic and Health Surveys (EDHS) conducted between 2000 and 2016. The study focused on investigating the individual and combined effects of three factors: preceding birth interval, maternal age at childbirth, and birth order, on child mortality. Results The study found that lengthening the preceding birth interval to 18–23, 24–35, 36–47, or 48+ months reduced the risk of under-five deaths by 30%, 46%, 56%, and 60% respectively, compared to very short birth intervals (less than 18 months). Giving birth between the ages 20–34 and 35+ reduced the risk by 34% and 8% respectively, compared to giving birth below the age of 20. The risk of under-five death was higher for a 7th-born child by 17% compared to a 2nd or 3rd-born child. The combined effect analysis showed that higher birth order at a young maternal age increased the risk. In comparison, lower birth order in older maternal age groups was associated with higher risk. Lastly, very short birth intervals posed a greater risk for children with higher birth orders. Conclusion Not only does one reproductive health variable negatively affect child survival, but their combination has the strongest effect. It is therefore recommended that policies in Ethiopia should address short birth intervals, young age of childbearing, and order of birth through an integrated strategy.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-023-01734-5Child mortalityConceptual frameworkReproductive variablesHazard model |
| spellingShingle | Hailu Refera Debere Visseho Adjiwanou The effects of reproductive variables on child mortality in Ethiopia: evidence from demographic and health surveys from 2000 to 2016 Reproductive Health Child mortality Conceptual framework Reproductive variables Hazard model |
| title | The effects of reproductive variables on child mortality in Ethiopia: evidence from demographic and health surveys from 2000 to 2016 |
| title_full | The effects of reproductive variables on child mortality in Ethiopia: evidence from demographic and health surveys from 2000 to 2016 |
| title_fullStr | The effects of reproductive variables on child mortality in Ethiopia: evidence from demographic and health surveys from 2000 to 2016 |
| title_full_unstemmed | The effects of reproductive variables on child mortality in Ethiopia: evidence from demographic and health surveys from 2000 to 2016 |
| title_short | The effects of reproductive variables on child mortality in Ethiopia: evidence from demographic and health surveys from 2000 to 2016 |
| title_sort | effects of reproductive variables on child mortality in ethiopia evidence from demographic and health surveys from 2000 to 2016 |
| topic | Child mortality Conceptual framework Reproductive variables Hazard model |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-023-01734-5 |
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