Risk Factors of Infant and Under-Five Mortality in Burkina Faso

Abstract

This paper examines and quantifies the effects of risks factors on infant and under-five mortality in Burkina Faso. Using national representative survey of 2010 Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) program, we consider different sociodemographic characteristics of mothers and their children and check how much they correlate with observed level of infant and childhood mortality. The results suggest that the interval with preceding child birth, birth order, children breastfeeding at birth and anthropometric measures (birth weight and size at birth) are the most relevant risks factors that determine infant and under-five mortality. The analysis of predictive probabilities suggests that first pregnancies have high risk of adverse birth outcomes and preceding birth interval from 36 to 41 months is relevant to reduce childhood mortality in the country.

Keywords: infant mortality, under-five mortality, determinants.