Determinants of Child Mortality and Morbidity in South Sudan

ABSTRACT 

The main objective of this study was to examine factors associated with childhood mortality and morbidity in South Sudan. The specific objectives were to establish childhood mortality, examine the effect of childhood factors on morbidity as well as examining the contribution of mother factors on childhood mortality and morbidity. The study used both descriptive and inferential analysis using secondary data from Second South Sudan household health survey (SSHHS2). Using univariate, bivariate, logistic regression and nested logistic models, the study estimated the odds of dying and survivorship probabilities for under-five mortality. The results provided estimates of childhood mortality by bio-demographic, socio economic characteristics, residence and state level. The results showed unexpected pattern for infant and under five mortality rates across residence, mother education and wealth quintiles. Therefore, these childhood indicators are higher in urban areas (118), primary education (118) and richest household (117). The proportion of children who received all vaccinations is very low (54.1%) compared with those who didn’t receive any vaccinations. Children residing in urban areas (61.8) are more likely to be fully immunized compared to children in rural areas (38.2%). This is due to availability of health facilities in urban areas. The education of the mother has got a very poor relationship with the overall level of child mortality (Chi = 0.647, P-value

CHAPTER TWO .6

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE 6

2.0. Introduction 6

2.1. Global Overview of Child Morbidity and Mortality 7

2.2. Determinants of Mortality and Morbidity 9

2.3. Conceptual Framework 10

2.4. Empirical work on Child Morbidity and Mortality 12

2.5 Geographic Variables 16

2.6. Knowledge gap 16

CHAPTER THREE 18

METHODOLOGY 18

3.0. Introduction 18

3.1. Research design 18

3.2. Data source 20

3.3. Data Analysis 21

3.4. Model Specification 22

3.5. Description of Variables 24

3.6. I3io-demographic factors 25

3.7. Socio-economic factors 25

3.8. Geographical factors (area of residence-rural/urban) 26

CHAPTER FOUR .27

ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS 27

4.0. Introduction 27

4.1. Determinants of Childhood Mortality 27

4.2. Effect of Childhood Factors on Morbidity 36

4.3. Mother Factors on the level of Child Mortality in South Sudan 40

CHAPTER FIVE 42

DISCUSSION, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 42

5.0. Introduction 42

5.1. Discussion of Findings 42

5.2 Conclusions 47

5.3. Recommendations 47

5.4. Limitation of the Study 48

5.5. Suggestion for Further Study 48

References 50