Determinants of Under-Five Child Mortality in Benishangul-Gumuz Regional State of Ethiopia

Abstract

Under-five Mortality (U5MR) in Benishangul-Gumuz is the highest among Ethiopia’s regional states, next to the Afar region. The risk of a child dying before completing five years of age in Benishangul-Gumuz region is 72.8 per 1000 live births. This paper aims to verify the main determinates, socioeconomic, demographic and environment factors, of U5MR in Benishangul-Gumuz Regional State using data from the Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (2016). The method of analysis is descriptive and econometric employing Probit model estimation. The result reveals that “Mother’s educational level”“Preceding Birth Interval”, “Duration of breastfeeding”, “Income or wealth of the household” and “Married Marital Status” have a negative and statistically significant relationship on Under-five Mortality. The policy implications of the results of the analysis emphasize that empowering women through education, health and income provide very important instruments to reduce Under-five Mortality in the region.