The influence of mother’s age, paruty and birth intervals on infant and child mortality in the Coast Region,Tanzania: the case of Chalinze and Lugoba Areas

This study attempts to identify demographic and socio-economic variables which influence infant and child mortality in Coast Region. Also it observes the extent at which the demographic and socio-economic variables influence child mortality at areas surveyed .The variables covered in this study were mother's age, parity and birth intervals, others were nature of union, marital status, religion and place of residence. Data on mortality and related variables were collected in a retrospective survey conducted in Coast Region in December 2005. The. profile of demographic and socio-economic variables was presented, followed by the estimation of infant and child mortality which was estimated by MORT PACK program. Thereafter the cross-tabulations of demographic and socio-economic variables against MORT and CDEATH were computed and regression analyses were carried out. On the findings, it was found that most children died at lower ages through bivariate, multivariate OLS, bivariate logistic and multivariate logistic regression have shown enough evidence on these issues. The first parity at MORT has shown that it was a causative agent for high mortality rate while mothers who give birth at intervals of less than 24 months and at longer intervals of over 48 months have high infant mortality rate. Therefore, the studied proximate determinants are dangerous to both mothers and their children, the policy makers should take measures to control the effects of these variables.