Childhood mortality in Amara region: A case study of Misrak Gojjam and Wag Hemra zone

Abstract

Abstract

Background: Mortality levels and differentials have shown variations not only among countries but also among areas in an administrative region within a country.

Objective: To examine variations in childhood mortality between food secure and insecure areas in the Amhara Nation Regional State, Misrak Gojjam and Wag Hemra Zones, respectively.

Methods: This is a study based on the 1994 population and Housing Census data. Ordinary Least Square regression is fitted using Trussell and Preston index of childhood mortality (the ratio of observed to expected deaths) as a dependent variable. The explanatory variables were: zonal and urban-rural residence, education level, migration status, age, parity and marital status of the mother, and household size, possession of a radio in the household, economic and sanitation status of the household size, population density and percent adult literate of the wereda.

Findings: Controlling for potential confounding variables, childhood mortality was 11 percent higher in food insecure Wag Hemra Zone compared to Misrak Gojjam Zone that is better food producing.

Conclusion: Effort must be strengthened in drought prone areas to introduce interventions likely to increase survival probabilities of children. [Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 2001;15(2):75-88]