Determinants of Under-five Mortality in South Africa: Results from a Cross-Sectional Demographic and Health Survey

Motsima, Tshaudi; Zuma, Khangelani; Rapoo, Eeva Maria

doi:10.24018/ejmed.2020.2.3.244

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

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“…36 Children who were not breastfed in South Africa had a significantly higher risk of dying before turning five than those who were; some of the reported reasons for not breastfeeding included a lack of time due to mothers' work habits and related to sickness/diseases that would put the babies at risk if they breastfed. 37 A study from Ethiopia showed that breastfeeding had a strong and significant effect on under-five child mortality. 11 Further studies carried out in Ethiopia revealed that children who were not breastfed had a higher likelihood of dying before their fifth birthday.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Time to death and its predictors among Ethiopian under-five children: cluster-level shared frailty survival analysis using the 2019 Ethiopian mini demographic health survey

Zakir Abasimel,

Tesfaye Oyato,

Alemu Desta

et al. 2024

JPNC

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Introduction: Reducing under-five mortality to less than 25 per 1000 live births by 2030 is one of the Sustainable Development Goals introduced in 2016. However, several countries are still falling short of their targets. In Ethiopia, one out of every 19 children dies before reaching the age of five. Thus, this study aims to identify the time to death and its predictors among under-five children in Ethiopia. Methods: The data were retrieved from the 2019 Ethiopian Mini Demographic and Health Survey data set. Descriptive statistics and survival curves were applied. Shared frailty survival analysis was employed to determine the predictors of under-five mortality. Statistical significance was declared at p-value <0.05. Result: The under-five mortality rate was found to be 59 deaths per 1000 live births with an estimated mean survival time of 57.6 months (95%CI: 57.38, 57.85). A child born into a family of seven or more had an 85% lowered risk of dying (AHR = 0.15, 95% CI: 0.05, 0.44). The risk of mortality among children born in the birth order of five or above was 3 times higher (AHR = 3.00, 95%CI: 1.70, 5.21) compared to those born in the birth order of one to four. The estimated risk of death among under-five children born less than 24 months interval was 2.68 times higher (AHR=2.68, 95%CI: 1.71, 4.21). Never breastfed was also a significant predictor of under-five child death (AHR = 2.76, 95%CI: 1.46, 5.23). Conclusion: Birth order, family size, preceding birth interval, and never breastfed history were significant predictors of under-five child mortality. Health policies should focus on keeping the spirit of a continuum of care to improve the health of the child and the health of the family as a whole. Health care providers should intervene in the community to maximize optimal infant and young child feeding practices.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Time to death and its predictors among Ethiopian under-five children: cluster-level shared frailty survival analysis using the 2019 Ethiopian mini demographic health survey

Zakir Abasimel,

Tesfaye Oyato,

Alemu Desta

et al. 2024

JPNC

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“…The global under-5-year mortality rate dropped to 37 deaths per 1 000 live births in 2020, but children in the African Region continued to have the highest mortality rates worldwide. 32 Under-5 mortality (U5MR) continues to be one of the most challenging public health issues in LMICs, mainly due to poor dwelling units, poor access to breastfeeding, and the circumstances of birth, more specifically multiple births as these children are more likely to die than singleton children 82 The leading causes of under-5 mortality are neonatal causes, diarrhoea, and pneumonia or lower respiratory tract infections, despite there being a high immunisation coverage rate and a decreasing occurrence of malnutrition. 83 COVID-19 has resulted in a setback in achieving reduced deaths from infections and maternal and child health conditions that would have been possible by the year 2035.…”

Section: Child Healthmentioning

confidence: 99%

Health and related indicators 2022

Day

Gray

2023

South African Health Review

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Background This chapter aims to provide a repository of data, focusing on the national and provincial levels, that describes the broad status of the South African health system (socio-demographic indicators and determinants and health status indicators, as well as health service indicators). It examines the available health information data sources in South Africa, with a particular focus on whether they have been strengthened during and after the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. The broader context for this chapter lies in the desire to see the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic translated into systemic changes that advance the reform of South Africa’s fragmented health services and hasten the attainment of effective and sustainable universal health coverage. Methods Data were sourced primarily from national routine data sources, but also captured from major surveys and global reports. Using monthly routine data sources, the difference between expected and actual routine measures were calculated and expected trends were forecast. These graphs enabled the depiction of the changes that occurred pre- and post-COVID in South Africa for key health indicators. Conclusions Progress is discernible, but there is also evidence of back-sliding, of a revision to previous positions, and therefore a need to refocus attention on important lessons, lest they be lost. Recommendations Strong health information systems should be the foundation on which evidence-based decisions can be made to support strong governance and leadership, where human resources for health are also supported and healthcare funding is prioritised.

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“…Scholars have identified maternal individual, household and community‐level characteristics as main contributors of under‐five mortality. These include, among others, maternal education, maternal age, wealth status and place of residence (Argeseanu, 2004; Bija, 2019; Buwembo, 2010; Hlongwa, 2016; Hossain & Islam, 2009; Kyei, 2011; Motsima et al, 2020; Rademeyer, 2019; Worku, 2009; Worku, 2011; Zewdie, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring the effect of kin caregivers' family functioning on child survival in South Africa: An application of the Family Systems Theory

Mabetha

Wet

Odimegwu

2023

Child & Family Social Work

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The survival of children who are raised in kinship care is largely influenced by the way their primary caregivers manage their family dynamics. Although research has focused on the effects of family structure and other extended kin effects on various child health outcomes, it remains largely unknown how kin caregivers' family functioning influences child survival, particularly in the South African context where the practice of kinship care is widely spread. An inductive thematic approach was employed, and data were collected from 24 kin caregivers who were providing care to under‐five children. Analysis of the data resulted in the development of three superordinate themes, namely, (1) relationship with family members, (2) poor relationships and (3) family attachment and communication. Each superordinate theme was linked to subthemes that helped explain the phenomenon under study. Overall, the kin caregivers' family environments serve as both protective barriers and risk factors for child survival depending on the state of familial relationships, collaboration and involvement of other kin within the households of primary kin caregivers. This translates into the survival of children being greatly determined by the family environment in which they live and the quality of care that they receive in that family environment.

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Determinants of Under-five Mortality in South Africa: Results from a Cross-Sectional Demographic and Health Survey

Cited by 3 publications

References 12 publications

Time to death and its predictors among Ethiopian under-five children: cluster-level shared frailty survival analysis using the 2019 Ethiopian mini demographic health survey

Time to death and its predictors among Ethiopian under-five children: cluster-level shared frailty survival analysis using the 2019 Ethiopian mini demographic health survey

Health and related indicators 2022

Exploring the effect of kin caregivers' family functioning on child survival in South Africa: An application of the Family Systems Theory

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