Levels and Differentials of Infant and Child Mortality Rates in Malakal in Upper Nile State, South Sudan

Abstract

This study aimed to establish the levels and differentials of infant and child mortality in Malakal, using primary data from a random sample of 1317 women aged (15-49 years). The results of Chi-square test show that mother education, mother employment, family income, parity, birth order, preceding birth interval, drinking water source, type of toilet facility, type of the floor, place of delivery and breastfeeding duration were significantly associated with infant and child mortality. Age of the mother and cooking fuel source were significantly associated with child mortality. The results of direct method of estimation show that  the levels of infant and child mortality were higher among infants and children for mothers with no education, infants and children in households with low income, infants and children for mothers aged 30+, infants and children of first birth order, infants and children of preceding birth interval ˂ 24 months, male infants and children, infants and children in households used nonimproved water, infants and children in households used non-improved toilet facility, infants and children in households with
natural floor, infants and children delivered at home and infants and children breastfed ˂ 6 months. Also, the levels of infant mortality were higher among infants for employed mothers; infants of parity 6+. Furthermore, the levels of child mortality were higher among children for unemployed mothers; children of parity 1-3 and children in households used high polluting fuel. The study recommends for improve accessibility to health services to reduce infant and child mortality rates to reasonable levels.