Abstract
Abstract Important milestones in reducing child mortality rates have been achieved internationally and in Africa. With 76 deaths per 1,000 live births, sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) continues to have the world's highest under-five mortality (U5M) rate. In SSA, one child in every 13 dies from preventable causes before reaching their fifth birthday. This study sought to determine the impact of demographic, socio-economic, and environmental determinants on child health in Namibia, using the Namibian demographic and health surveys (NDHS) from 2006 and 2013. A logistic regression model was used to determine the association between improved sanitary facilities and water sources and U5M in Namibia. Improved access to sanitation facilities in Namibia is associated with a lower U5M rate, according to the 2013 survey. No significant association was observed between improved access to safe water and child death. In 2013, the greater the mother's level of education, the lower the chance of child death. Finally, the findings demonstrate that mothers who are HIV-positive are more likely to experience under-five death. Hence, the Namibian government should increase sanitation facilities and promote maternal healthcare services for less fortunate households to lower the U5M rate.
Highlights
Child survival and health are high on the global agenda for long-term development
We investigated the impact of drinking water sources, toilet facilities, mother’s characteristics and socio-economic factors, and proximate factors on the health of children under the age of 5 in Namibia
There is a need for health programmes that target health determinants connected to child health and survival in Namibia
Summary
Child survival and health are high on the global agenda for long-term development. Children in underdeveloped countries such as Namibia continue to die before reaching their fifth birthday from preventable causes. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the African region has the highest child mortality rates, with around 74 fatalities per 1,000 live births, nine times greater than cases reported in the European area (WHO 2021). The global under-five mortality (U5M) has reduced by 60% from 1990 to 2020, currently at 5.2 million, equating to a daily death rate of 14,000 children (UNICEF 2020). Goal 3 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which replaced the MDGs, is to ‘reduce new-born mortality to at least 12 deaths per 1,000 live births and under mortality to at least 25 per 1,000 live births’ (United Nations 2017).
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