Influence of sociodemographic factors on child mortality in Bangladesh: a multivariate analysis

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of sociodemographic factors on child mortality in urban and rural areas of Bangladesh. The research was performed using cross-sectional survey data from the Bangladesh Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2012–2013. The impact of sociodemographic factors on child mortality was estimated using a Poisson regression model for both urban and rural areas of Bangladesh. The findings of the study demonstrate that division, religion, women’s education, women's age, contraception use, age at first marriage, birth interval, and number of children ever born had notable effects. Among these factors, poverty, women’s age, age at first marriage, birth interval, and number of children ever born had significant effects on child mortality in both urban and rural areas. The risk was significantly lower among women with secondary or higher education than in women with no formal education in both urban and rural areas of Bangladesh, and a negative association was found between wealth status and child mortality in rural areas. The government should not only take the necessary steps to reduce child deaths in the rural zones of Dhaka, Rajshahi, Rangpur, and the Sylhet Division, but should also consider stopping the practice of early marriage by increasing women’s education in both urban and rural areas of Bangladesh. It will implement the program to fulfill the 11th national election manifesto of the ruling government of Bangladesh.