Infant and child mortality differentials in the southern region of Malawi

Abstract

This study is based on the 1984 Malawi Family Formation Survey, a nationwide sample survey conducted by the National Statistical Office in collaboration with the Ministry of Health. The study has attempted to examine variations in infant and child mortality by demographic and socio-economic variables using unweighted data for the Southern Region only. Children were the unit of analysis and probabilities of dying in infancy or childhood were calculated by the various variables. The results indicate that both infant and child mortality is highest among children of teenagers. Differences by sex were not statistically significant. Moreover, infant and child mortality is higher among first order and high order births than among births of second or third order. Furthermore, mortality declines as the length of the birth interval increases. Also, twins had higher infant and child mortality than singletons. Infant and child mortality declined as the mother's education increased. Similar results were found when the education of the mother's current or last husband (if widowed, divorced/separated) was used. Rural areas have higher infant and child mortality than urban areas. Households using facilities like piped water, flush toilet and owning a radio in working condition have lower infant and child mortality than those that use other sources of drinking water, have a pit latrine or none and have no radio. Health care factors like mother's medical check during pregnancy, place of birth, birth attendant and immunisation also influence infant and child mortality.