1Determinants of Child Mortality in Rural Areas in Bangladesh
Nazmul Huda
Graduate Student, Kagawa University
Email: hudasociology@gmail.com
Abstract
The main purpose of this study is to explore the determinants of child mortality in rural areas of Bangladesh.
A mixed method has been employed to carry out the result for this study. The study has been conducted in
the rural areas of Narail district in Bangladesh on 101 women who have at least an under-5 child. The study
revealed that 27.86% of the child bearing mothers who are housewife have lost their child compared to35.71% of the respondents who work as agricultural labor. The analysis showed that child mortality
significantly varies depending on socio-demographic determinants of child-bearing mother in rural area in
Bangladesh. The correlation test disclosed that presence of Trained Birth Attendant during pregnancy, placeof delivery and mother’s belief on fate had no significant relationship with child mortality. But age,occupation, religion, media exposure, educational attainment and family food security had significant
relationship on child mortality. The study concluded that various social and religious rituals during ANC,
delivery and PNC care might increase under-5 mortality rate in rural areas in Bangladesh. Mothers age during
pregnancy, transportation to nearest medical center are still a concern in rural Bangladesh. Thus, the study
suggested for a long-term program among rural women for creating awareness regarding pregnancy care,antenatal care, child caring, and malnutrition to reduce child mortality.
Keywords: Socio-demographic determinants, child-bearing mother, ANC care, delivery careand child mortality.

Method of Investigation
The study has been carried out from three villages of Kalara Union of Narail Sadar Thana under Narail
district of Bangladesh. Among the three villages, Agdia is the largest village in terms of area and population.
From the study area Paribarik Sachtho Clinic (Family Health Clinic) which is popular known as ‘Sabuj
Chata Kendra’ is located about 5 km. way and Sadar Hospital (govt. hospital) is located nearly 12 km. way.
BRAK, one of the biggest Non-Government Organization (NGO) in Bangladesh is working in these villages
for various awareness and action programs related to mother health, child care and education.
The study population of the study is all the under-5 child bearing mothers of the targeted villages. It isestimated that the total study population is 349. The study unit of the study was each mother who has at least
one under-5 child. Purposive sampling has been performed to select 101 child-bearing mothers from thesethree villages. The main reasons behind the selection of purposive sampling are (1) it is easy to select; (2)cost-effective method; (3) save time and (4) there was no sample frame.
The present study has been used both types of instrument (quantitative and qualitative) to assess the sociodemographic determinants affecting child mortality in rural Bangladesh. Both types of qualitative andquantitative data collection techniques have been used. One stage pre-test has been done by the researcher
for survey questionnaire. Two female data collectors have been hired to collect data. Data collection hasbeen done by female as the questionnaire consisted of some sensitive issues relating to pregnancy, delivery
and postnatal care of the child bearing mother.

2Objective and Hypothesis:
Objective:
To distinguish socio-economic and demographic determinants are still affect child mortality significantly inrural area in Bangladesh.
Hypothesis:
1. The more presence of untrained birth attendant during delivery, the more chance of child mortality in ruralarea.
2. Educational attainment of the child bearing mothers has a negative association with child mortality.
3. Media exposure of the child-bearing mother in rural area is associated child mortality.
4. There is a positive correlation between place of birth and child mortality in rural area.
Relationship among the Variables
Chi-Squared Test= χ2
Hypothesis
Phi-Coefficient Test = ɼɸRelationship between the age of the child bearing mother and childmortality
ɼɸ= 00.673
Association between child-bearing mother live with husband or others andchild mortality
ɼɸ=00.606
Relation between occupation of the respondent and child mortality
ɼɸ=00.769
Association between religion of the respondent and child mortality
ɼɸ=00.415
Relationship with regularly listening radio of the respondent and childmortality
χ2=11.42
Relationship with regularly watching television of the respondent andχ2=24.33
child mortality
ɼɸ= -00.098
Association between place of birth of child and child mortality
Relation between the presence of Untrained Birth Attendant during
delivery and child mortality
ɼɸ= -.246
Relation between the presence of Trained Birth Attendance during
delivery and child mortality
ɼɸ= -0.007
Relationship between the dependency on fate of the respondents and childmortality
χ2=.035
Family ever faced problem to provide food for mother and the child andchild mortality.
χ2= 6.16
Educational attainment of the child-bearing mother (at least primary) andchild mortality.
χ2= 4.17
Relationship between the age of the child bearing mother and childmortality
ɼɸ= 00.673
Association between child-bearing mother live with husband or others andchild mortality
ɼɸ=00.606
Relation between occupation of the respondent and child mortality
ɼɸ=00.769
Association between religion of the respondent and child mortality
ɼɸ=00.415
Relationship with regularly listening radio of the respondent and childχ2=11.42
mortality
Relationship with regularly watching television of the respondent andchild mortality
χ2=24.33
Association between place of birth of child and child mortality
ɼɸ= -00.098
Relation between the presence of Untrained Birth Attendant during
delivery and child mortality
ɼɸ= -.246

df

P Value

3p=.000

333p=.000
p=.000p=.000

3p=.001

33P=.048
p=.8093p=.047

3p=.920

3p=.853

3P=.013

3P=.041

3p=.000

33
3

p=.000p=.000p=.000

3p=.001

33P=.048
p=.8093p=.047