Determinants of under-five mortality in Namibia: an analysis of the 2013 Namibia demographic and health survey data
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Date
2020-08
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Namibia University of Science and Technology
Abstract
This thesis reports on a statistical analysis on risk factors associated with under-five mortality in Namibia.
Secondary data were obtained from the 2013 Namibia Demographic and Health Survey data. Children
survival was measured by age at death and the event variable was whether the children were still alive or
dead after the first five (years) of their lives. Variables included were maternal education, mother’s marital
status, the age of the mother at first birth, preceding birth interval, type of birth, place of residence,
household wealth index, status of breastfeed and the place of delivery. Descriptive summary statistics in
the form of tables and graphs were used to profile the background characteristics of the children. Survival
analysis techniques (Kaplan-Meier curves, Log Rank Test and Cox Proportional Hazards model) were used
to establish the determinants of survival among under-five children. Frailty model with regions as a
random effect was fitted- to determine the influence of unobserved risk factors on under-five mortality.
Results revealed that maternal highest level of education (higher/tertiary level), status of breastfeed
(children who have been breastfeed), the place of delivery (those born in private medical facilities) and
type of birth (single births), were found to be the risk factors associated with under-five mortality in
Namibia. Policy efforts should focus on encouraging mothers to breastfeed the children as children who
were breastfed are 54 times less likely to die below the age of five (5) compared to those who were not
breastfed and more focuses on programs that empower women such as free education to all, especially
tertiary education. Children born at private facilities are at lower risk of death compared to those born at
home and this calls for further research on the reasons behind.
Description
Keywords
Under-Five Mortality, Survival Analysis, Cox Proportional Hazard, Frailty Models - Namibia
Citation
Hamunyela, N. N. L. (2020). Determinants of under-five mortality in Namibia: an analysis of the 2013 Namibia demographic and health survey data. (Unpublished master thesis). Namibia University of Science and Technology, Windhoek.