Malawi 2015-16

• Under-5 mortality declines with increasing level
of the mother’s education.
Figure 8.2 Under-5 mortality by
household wealth
• Under-5 mortality declines with the level of
household wealth from 83 deaths per 1,000 live
births in lowest wealth quintile to 60 deaths per
1,000 live births in highest wealth quintile
(Figure 8.2).
Deaths per 1,000 live births for the
10-year period before the survey
83 81
77
68
60
8.2 BIODEMOGRAPHIC RISK FACTORS
Researchers have identified multiple risk factors for
infant and child mortality based on the
characteristics of the mother and child and the
circumstances of the birth. Table 8.3 illustrates the
relationship between these risk factors and neonatal,
infant, and under-5 mortality.
• Boys are more likely to die before their fifth
birthday than girls. The gender gap is most
pronounced in the neonatal period (within 1
month after birth).
• Shorter birth intervals are associated with higher
mortality. The under-5 mortality rate for
children born less than 2 years after the
preceding birth is over twice as high as that of
children born 4 or more years after their
preceding sibling (Figure 8.3).
• Children reported to be small or very small are
almost twice as likely to die in the first month of
life as children reported to be average or larger
(44 deaths per 1,000 live births versus 22 deaths
per 1,000 live births).
Lowest Second Middle Fourth Highest
Poorest
Figure 8.3 Childhood mortality by
previous birth interval
78
Deaths per 1,000 live births for the
10-year period before the survey
Wealthiest
Previous birth interval: