Abstract:
Background: The probability of dying before five years of age per 1000 live births is a key
global indicator of child health and one of the most important measures of global health. There
are huge differences in child mortality among low and middle income countries and the
industrial world with Sub-Saharan Africa and South East Asia carrying the highest burden of
under-five mortality.
Objective: To assess determinants of under-five mortality in Debark Wereda, North Gondar
Zone, Amhara Region, North Western Ethiopia.
Methodology: A community based qualitative and quantitative cross sectional study design that
includes 361 respondents selected through Systematic sampling technique was held to assess
determinants of under-five mortality in the study area. Data on under- five mortality were mainly
obtained from household survey with semi-structured questionnaires from mothers who have
given birth in the study period. Data were entered in to SPSS version 20 for detailed analysis. In
order to study the trend and factors associated with under-five mortality, binary and multilevel
logistic regression analysis was used. Odds ratios with their 95% confidence interval (CI) were
used to determine the strength of association. Binary and multilevel logistic regression was
computed to examine crude and adjusted association of predictors on under-five mortality,
respectively. P values less than 0.05 were considered as statistically significant. Results were
presented in the form of tables, figures and descriptive statistics.
Result: The prevalence rate of under-five mortality in this study was 155 per 1000 live births.
Children from rural areas and male babies were found to be at a higher risk of dying than
female babies. It was found that place of delivery, type of birth, breast feeding status,
educational level of mother’s, area of residence and wealth index of the household were among
the dominant and the most significant determinants of under-five child mortality in the study
area. Under-five mortality in the study area were higher compared to prior studies. Therefore,
concerned bodies should give more attention to the study area with the aim of reducing underfive
mortality.
