Factors Influencing Child Mortality: Previous Research

Which factors influence child death in TanzaniaTanzania? This chapter answers this question by consolidating previous research organized within a conceptual frameworkConceptual framework to explain child mortalityChild mortality. As an underlying causeUnderlying cause, healthHealth services were confirmed to be important, particularly with regard to distance and financialfinancial access. However, the quality of healthHealth services was questioned, and there were debates regarding traditional medicineTraditional medicine. The deprivation of ruralrural children was emphasized, particularly in terms of waterwater and sanitationsanitation. Food securityFood security has also been analyzed as influencing child mortalityChild mortality. BirthBirth intervals have been identified as another influence on infantinfant mortalityMortality. Several basic structuralStructural causes have also been identified, including the educationEducation of parents. Numerous studies suggest that maternalmaternal educationEducation, but not necessarily paternalpaternal educationEducation, positively influences child survival. Researchers have examined the role of the partner in the survival and careCare of infantinfants. PolygynyPolygyny was identified as negatively affecting child survival. Although these studies clarified many underlying causesUnderlying cause that influence the survival of infants, the basic structuralStructural causes are more complex, and information remains scarce. In addition, because many of these studies are regionally biased, it is difficult to identify the common causes and regional causes of child mortalityChild mortality.